shivalries | Gambit - Night Stalker Chapter 5 (Reply)

Season: Winter

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Location: ES Studio

Arashi: The same thing is happening around us now.

Knights are the originals, and King Slayer are just thieves who stole ideas from us—that's the truth, and that's what was "correct" back during the first incident.

But now, things are different.

Now there's this absurd story going around King Slayer's fanbase that they are the originals, and we are the thieves.

And because everyone swallowed that story without question and started to spread it everywhere like a conspiracy, now fans within Japan are starting to believe it.

This is happening because those zealous King Slayer fans are reconstructing ethics and history based on what they believe to be correct.

I skimmed over some conspiracy theory posts that are going viral online, and you know, they're pretty interesting and make some convincing arguments.

If I wasn't personally involved, I might've believed those theories without thinking too deeply.

Tsukasa: B-But...

But that... that's not the truth.

Arashi: It isn't. But, you see, everyone's already started to call the apple a fig.

Common opinion has already started changing, sorry to say.

To top it off, most of Knights' fans are Japanese people, who tend to place heavy importance on "reading the air".

A lot of foreign people—and I mean a lot—are absolutely raging at Knights.

We're not our fans' family or friends or anything; they simply took a liking to us. There aren't many who could stand against a tidal wave of hatred and malice just for our sakes.

Of course, there are still many fans who are taking our side. Not everyone is so gullible or weak.

But their numbers are miniscule compared to what they're up against.

King Slayer's army boasts twice, or even a few times the numbers and power of our own—could be even ten times as much, if we really mess up.

On top of that, our fans are constantly getting hate because they're fans of the "evil" Knights, so "clearly" they must be evil themselves. They can't handle that forever.

No... We can't keep putting people through hell at the front lines just because they've decided to love us.

Tsukasa: ...We must bring an end to this problem swiftly.

But what should we do?

We are up against a foreign army. I presume we cannot simply rely on our usual methods and settle the score with a live showdown.

Should we then attempt to reason with the other party, like last time?

Arashi: We just discussed at length about how that doesn't seem feasible.

The masses have already reached their verdict: King Slayer are in the right, and Knights are in the wrong.

Tsukasa: But we have no other options. We have done nothing wrong, so surely, if we stand firm and continue to speak the truth—

Arashi: And I'm saying, the "truth" has already changed beyond recognition.

The apple has become the fig. That is the truth, and that is what is correct.

Even if we repeat what we said the last time, we'll just be laughed off as silly idiots who keep saying figs are apples for some reason.

Tsukasa: But... Then, what can we do?

Izumi: We've got other problems, too, you know.

Tsukasa: P-Pardon me? What do you mean, Sena-senpai?

Izumi: Actually, if you ask me, I'd say this problem is way bigger.

Since my activities are based abroad, King Slayer has been a much closer topic to me than you all sitting in Japan. I've heard a lot.

I was already aware that those "damn plagiarists" have been growing with an odd fervor and managed to get pretty famous.

Tsukasa: Th-Then why did you not inform us of anything strange earlier?

Izumi: Look, I am sorry about that. I just thought King Slayer had nothing to do with us Knights anymore.

I mean, is there any point in telling you every last detail about something completely irrelevant?

You could even say I was being considerate by avoiding burdening you guys with extra information when you're already working yourselves ragged.

Tsukasa: I... well... um, thank you?

Izumi: Besides, I thought it was a good thing that King Slayer have been doing well for themselves.

Tsukasa: W-Well, of course, objectively speaking, that is a good thing.

Arashi: That's true... Had we not been hit with accusations in the process, I would've applauded their success like any other.

Izumi: Also... This concerns my personal feelings, so I don't really want to talk about it, but...

One of the people behind King Slayer's massive successes is... Leo-kun.

Tsukasa: Pardon? L... Leo-san? What do you mean by this?

Izumi: You know how Leo-kun professionally writes music under all kinds of dumb pseudonyms like "Composer Phantom X"?

One of those pseudonyms is "Cide R".

Tsukasa: "Side"...? Rather than a nickname, it sounds more like a place name...

Izumi: No, not like, "side". It's "cide", with a "c".

Arashi: Does "R" stand for Leo-kun? Wait, no, wouldn't that be "L"?

Izumi: "R" stands for "Rex", so "Cide-R" is actually "Cide-Rex". If you switch the pieces around, it becomes "Rex-Cide".

Tsukasa: "Rex-Cide"... Combine them, and you get "regicide".

If rex means "king" in Latin, then regicide is... the murder of one's king...?

Murdering one's king... King Slayer!

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T/N: I tried to salvage this. I really, really did. BUT LOOK WHAT I HAVE TO WORK WITH: