arrow_back Genshin Impact Quests 
Mantichora Chapter: Act I
Lionsblood
One day, you and Paimon stop by the Grand Bazaar...
Go to the Grand Bazaar
Paimon:
Hmm, Paimon's trying to remember... what else did we put on our shopping list...?
Paimon:
*sniff* Oh, what a mouthwatering smell! Paimon would know the aroma of Biryani anywhere! Let's go get some!
Traveler:
That wasn't on our list, was it?
Paimon:
Uh, we can still add it to the list!
Dehya:
Well, if it isn't Traveler and Paimon. Wasn't expecting to see you here.
Dunyarzad:
Hello there! It's been quite a while.
Paimon:
Huh, so you two are still hanging out together! Dehya, didn't you say last time that you were gonna head back to the desert?
Dehya:
Haha, I said I was going to resign from being her bodyguard, not that our friendship was over. We're still the best of friends.
Dehya:
The Homayanis also still post jobs from time to time. Their pay is always generous, so me and the other mercs never pass them up.
Dunyarzad:
I told Dehya to just stay at our place when she took one of those jobs a few days ago.
Dunyarzad:
My parents were delighted. They even said that it always felt like we were missing someone whenever Dehya wasn't around.
Dehya:
Pff, that sounds like something they would say alright. They are always so welcoming...
Dehya:
Anyway, the job is already taken care of, so I was gonna head back to the brigade as soon as I finished a little shopping. But the master kept insisting and I ended up staying for another day.
Dunyarzad:
You can stay for as many days as you want, Dehya. Father hasn't even gotten around to treating you to his best dishes yet.
Dehya:
Heh, you know I'm not the kind of person to stay put in one place like that, my lady. Don't worry though — there'll always be next time.
Paimon:
But she said they'll treat you to the "best dishes"... Paimon can't believe you can still refuse that!
Dunyarzad:
Ah, but wait, didn't you say last time that you would take me on a trip to the desert? Why don't you just take me with you today when you leave?
Dunyarzad:
There are so many places I still haven't visited yet.
Dehya:
I'm sorry, my lady, but no can do. There are still a few things I need to take care of back at the brigade. Besides, the desert hasn't exactly been the most peaceful place lately.
Dunyarzad:
Oh, come on, not this again! That's also what you said last time, and the time before that.
Dehya:
I know, I'm sorry! Just give me some more time, and I promise I'll plan the best trip ever for you.
Dunyarzad:
Alright, fine. To be perfectly honest, it's not that I wanted to go, it's more like... I feel like something is off about you lately.
Dunyarzad:
Ever since you first set foot on the estate a few days ago, you've been acting anxious and even paranoid.
Dunyarzad:
Have you been delaying our trip because you've run into some kind of trouble?
Dehya:
Nah, are you kidding? You're worrying too much.
Dunyarzad:
Would you swear on that? Friends shouldn't lie to each other, you know. I won't pry any further if you're willing to swear on what you just said.
Dunyarzad:
But if something really is bothering you, then just tell me. You know I'll help you however I can.
Dehya:
...
Paimon:
Oh, looks like Dunyarzad was on to something.
Dehya:
*sigh* You're too perceptive, my lady. Seems I can't hide anything from you.
Dehya:
I just thought that nothing good could come out of telling you about the messy happenings of mercenaries. Knowing too much only leads to more trouble.
Dehya:
Mercenary life is a dog-eat-dog world where Mora reigns supreme. Everything operates on a completely different set of rules.
Dunyarzad:
That doesn't change anything about what I just said, though. We're still friends, and I can only support you if I understand what's bothering you.
Dehya:
My lady... *sigh* You're not gonna stop until you drag it out of me, are ya...
Dehya:
Alright, I'll share what I know. Let's go somewhere else first, this isn't exactly the best place for a discussion.
You go talk somewhere else.
Dehya:
Okay, let's talk here. Just try not to draw any extra attention.
Dehya:
As you may already know, the Eremites have both a lot of mercenaries and a complex organizational structure. Many mercs are no different than me, just going around looking for jobs to earn some Mora.
Dehya:
My brigade is called the "Blazing Beasts." We're not a large group, but every member is loyal and brave.
Dehya:
However, not all Eremite brigades are like mine. Some are willing to cross all kinds of lines for the sake of Mora. The most notorious is a faction known as "Deshret's Relics."
Paimon:
Deshret's Relics? Judging from the name, they must really look up to...
Dehya:
Yep, you got it. I've heard that you've already crossed paths with Ayn Al-Ahmar? They're one of the groups under the Relics' banner.
Paimon:
Oh, you mean the group that tried to sell us the Divine Knowledge Capsule! Yeah, they weren't friendly at all...
Dehya:
Deshret's Relics is composed of many smaller brigades like Ayn Al-Ahmar. The Relics' headquarters issues orders to all brigades under its control.
Dehya:
On any other day, I would want nothing to do with them. Unfortunately though, the brigade that's stirring up trouble now is none other than Dakan Al-Ahmar.
Paimon:
Dakan...?
Dehya:
I think it means "beard" or something. Believe me, it's a really stupid name... I've found it insufferable for years.
Dehya:
Anyway, the real issue is that Dakan Al-Ahmar is led by my father, Kusayla.
Paimon:
Say what now!?
Dunyarzad:
I think I'm starting to understand your anxiety now... but what did they do?
Dehya:
I won't go into details, my lady, but they've been involved in a lot of violent incidents. We're talking hundreds.
Paimon:
...Hundreds!?
Dehya:
Yep. The scenes tend to be quite gruesome, too. They strip the victims of all their valuables before murdering them.
Dehya:
Not only have they targeted merchant caravans and ordinary citizens, but other mercenary brigades as well.
Dunyarzad:
...That's beyond terrible. They won't even spare their own kind.
Dehya:
I don't know how Deshret's Relics sees it, all I do know is that Dakan Al-Ahmar has become more and more aggressive over the last few years.
Dehya:
If I don't do something about them, then even my brigade or the people of Aaru Village could become their next target.
Dehya:
*sigh* I just wish I knew what's driven him to do this...
Paimon:
Yeah, how can your father do such terrible things?
Dehya:
I dunno, people change. He's always been pretty pathetic, but at least in the past, there were still a few lines that he wouldn't cross.
Paimon:
That's setting the bar pretty low...
Dehya:
I mean, if he was even remotely decent, then why would I have to leave the brigade and cut all ties with him?
Dehya:
He was loud and foolish, with no real sense of purpose. Instead of doing anything useful, he spent most of his time drinking and chasing after women.
Dehya:
Of course, the other brigade members were just like him. Their ruckus would go on night after night...
Paimon:
Sounds like a nightmare...
Dunyarzad:
What about your mother? Did she ever step in to stop them?
Dehya:
...Unfortunately, I never knew my mother.
Dunyarzad:
Ah... I'm sorry, Dehya. I didn't know...
Dehya:
It's alright, my lady. That's pretty common in mercenary circles. Didn't I mention that my father was chasing after women? I was the result of one of those encounters with some random person.
Dehya:
He told me that he wasn't sure who my mother was, and in any case, she never came to see me.
Dehya:
He'd say, "You'll be fine as long as you remember to stick with Dad," but even then, he left most of the parenting to the brigade. The one thing I do remember is that he used to tell me stories.
Dehya:
But the problem was that he had terrible taste. He only knew a few stories, and even those tended to be pretty stale...
Dehya:
They were tales of desert warriors defeating dragons in the forest, or stories of mercenaries rescuing princesses from rebel armies.
Paimon:
Sounds like your typical fairy tales...
Dehya:
More or less, yeah. They were interesting maybe the first or second time around, but after about 20 repeats, they started to get a little dull...
Dehya:
He seemed to think those stories were the best things ever, though. He was so into 'em that he'd call the whole brigade over and make them perform the whole thing as a play.
Dehya:
Even the toys he gave me would all be story props... I'd get helmets, shields, and toy swords.
Dehya:
It was only much later when I realized that the shows were more for him than they ever were for me.
Paimon:
...What an interesting guy.
Traveler:
But it doesn't sound like he had all bad intentions?
Dehya:
Yeah, I've always found him pretty childish, but that was something I could just shrug off. I had no reason to despise him...
Dehya:
...Until I grew up, and learned the true face of Deshret's Relics for myself.
Dehya:
Looting, blackmail, violence, and fraud... They not only accepted such heinous acts, they would even openly boast about them.
Dehya:
No one in the brigade was any kind of hero, instead, my father and his cronies were more like the bad guys that needed to be taken down.
Dehya:
Did they really think that as long as they didn't do any of that stuff right in front of me, I would never know?
Dunyarzad:
I think I can understand your feelings. The difference between perception and reality must have hit hard...
Dehya:
Yeah, but don't worry, my lady, it's all water under the bridge to me now. I had a huge argument with my father, and left that place behind for good.
Dehya:
I'm not investigating them due to any bitter feelings I still have towards my father. I just want to protect those that are close to me.
Dehya:
Yeah, I told the boys to gather as much information as they could. Most of the reports concern violent incidents, but there's also some talk of smuggling.
Dunyarzad:
I see... But isn't this investigation incredibly dangerous?
Dehya:
It is, but every mercenary lives life on the edge. It's a lifestyle that I enjoy.
Dunyarzad:
That may be true, but it'll be impossible for those who care about you not to worry.
Dehya:
Well... now you get why I didn't want to share any of this with you.
Paimon:
What should we do? They both have valid concerns...
Traveler:
I'll go back to the desert with Dehya.
Dehya:
Huh? But there's no need for you to get caught up in this mess, too.
Paimon:
Well, he's super tough, so if he went to the desert with you, then Paimon bets the problem would be solved in no time!
Dunyarzad:
Hmm... I'm inclined to agree. I'd feel a lot more at ease if you took him along to help.
Dunyarzad:
I'll wait for news from you in the city until then. Please, stay safe.
Dehya:
I'm honored that you care so much for me, my lady.
Dehya:
Alright, then let's get moving. Our first stop will be Caravan Ribat, where we can catch up a bit with my fellow mercs.
Go to Caravan Ribat to learn more about the situation
Harun:
Hey, Dehya, you're back! Are these two friends of yours?
Harun:
Hahaha, likewise. There's no need to be so formal with us. We're a pretty casual crew.
Harun:
Anyway, since we've got newcomers, let me fill you in on what Dakan Al-Ahmar's been up to lately.
Harun:
They've become extremely aggressive. Apparently even their own now have become acceptable targets.
Harun:
They even attack other Relics brigades just the same as any other mercenary brigade.
Dehya:
Even the most ferocious beasts still protect their own. It sounds like they've thrown that straight to the wind.
Harun:
That's right. Once they've collected enough loot off the other mercenaries, they sell it off to a different brigade, or turn to merchants on the black market.
Harun:
A portion of their profits is immediately exchanged for more food and weaponry to be used in their next violent operation.
Paimon:
That's terrible...
Harun:
Yeah, and it really makes you wonder why they're so desperate for Mora.
Harun:
A few days ago, Hisham and I trailed them for a while, and even disguised ourselves as merchants to conduct trade with them. We were able to learn a few things from the exchange.
Harun:
Rather than saying they're out to plunder and hoard Mora, it'd probably be more accurate to say that they're experiencing an internal power struggle.
Dehya:
Wait, a power struggle?
Harun:
You heard me right. The vast majority of their victims are mercenaries from the other brigades of Deshret's Relics.
Harun:
If their only goal was Mora, they could have gone after anybody. The targeted nature of their attacks points to a power struggle between the different brigades within the Relics, that's the only plausible explanation we have.
Harun:
Unfortunately, we weren't able to find out anything more specific. It seems they're also trying to keep things under wraps.
Harun:
Oh, one last thing we discovered was that over the past few years, as Dakan Al-Ahmar became more and more active, Deshret's Relics as a whole became a lot weaker.
Dehya:
Sounds mighty strange to me, too. Harun, you can leave the rest of the investigation to us.
Dehya:
Gotta say though, I didn't expect you to go on a whole undercover mission during the few days I was gone. Sounds like you were really putting your necks on the line, no?
Harun:
Nah, it was nothin'. We're just as concerned about the situation as you are. Dakan Al-Ahmar is your father's crew, after all.
Hisham:
Haha, what he said. Besides, Dehya, haven't you done more dangerous things than all of us combined? What we did is nothing compared to your experiences.
Khalaf:
Yeah! And while they went to talk with Dakan Al-Ahmar, I took a look at the last camp they attacked.
Khalaf:
Any survivors of the attack were already long gone. There was nothing of value left in the camp.
Dehya:
Ah, Hisham and Khalaf, you're here too.
Hisham:
We rushed over as soon as we saw you come into Caravan Ribat.
Hisham:
Although this new friend of yours looks a little green behind the ears, I'm sensing a special vibe from him.
Hisham:
Now that we know you'll have a capable partner with you, we can also rest easy.
Paimon:
Hey, what about Paimon? Feel anything special?
Hisham:
Oh, uh... You're also planning to tag along with them?
Paimon:
Of course! Paimon is the Traveler's most important guide. Wherever he goes, Paimon will follow!
Hisham:
Oh, in that case... then you'd better take care of her too, Dehya.
Paimon:
Ugh, don't underestimate Paimon!
Dehya:
Hahaha, don't worry about her. She may look tiny and helpless, but she's been through just as many battles as the Traveler here.
Dehya:
Even if she had only survived on sheer luck, then that alone would still make her quite formidable.
Hisham:
Hah, I had no idea... I guess I shouldn't judge by appearances, haha.
Khalaf:
Oh, one other thing, Dehya. When you're free, why don't you update the deputy about your upcoming schedule?
Khalaf:
We held another recruitment event a few days ago, but everyone only came to see the Flame-Mane. You weren't around at the time, so people were pretty disappointed to only find our crew of rough, unkempt guys.
Khalaf:
The deputy put a lot of effort into the event, but it was basically for nothing... only a few people chose to stay, and that really got to him.
Dehya:
Ah, sorry to hear that. I'll be sure to bring him some great liquor next time... I left in a hurry, and I couldn't make it back in time for the event.
Hisham:
Gotta admit, I can understand their disappointment, though. You're our brigade's main selling point, after all.
Hisham:
Now, if only the deputy could figure out a way to bring a few more smokin' hot members into our ranks...
Dehya:
Hah, keep dreaming. Remember the last time I invited a couple gals into the brigade? You all just froze up with your mouths gaping, like a bunch o' scarecrows.
Dehya:
The awkward silence and weird expressions left quite the impression on 'em. They were originally interested in joining us, but after that, they both told me they were too uncomfortable to stick around.
Hisham:
Hey, didn't we agree to never bring that up again!?
Khalaf:
Huh? Wait, are you serious? Why've I never heard about this?
Harun:
I don't think you were a part of the brigade yet.
Khalaf:
Are you kidding me!? I missed a once-in-a-lifetime moment like that, and you weren't even gonna tell me!?
Harun:
Alright, alright! We can tell you about it later. Now's not the time.
Khalaf:
Hey, don't you try to change the subject! You and Hisham get your butts over here and tell me everything right now.
Paimon:
Uh, are they... always like this?
Dehya:
Haha, more or less.
Dehya:
There aren't many rules or graces when it comes to mercenaries. We're used to just speaking our minds.
Dehya:
If someone starts getting under your skin, you just yell right back at 'em. If that doesn't put an end to it... eh, then you just challenge 'em to a fight.
Dehya:
But we also don't tend to take many things too seriously. Being direct and getting it all out of your system as soon as things come up is better than keeping everything bottled up and never talking about it.
Dehya:
That's also why I never spare their feelings when I talk to them. If I wanna laugh, I'll laugh. If I'm angry, then I'll unload on 'em. It's hard to stop once you get used to it, though I can never do that when I'm with the Homayanis.
Dehya:
Hey, knuckleheads. Can you at least tell me the rest of the intel before you go back to your bickering?
Harun:
Yeah, you hear her, Khalaf? Told ya we gotta focus on the investigation first. Ahem, I drew up a map — right here's the spot — there you'll find the merchant caravan responsible for getting rid of Dakan Al-Ahmar's looted goods.
Harun:
All you gotta do is wait and ambush them in the evening. They'll have no idea what hit 'em.
Dehya:
Perfect, thanks for that. Be sure to pass my regards to everyone else in the brigade as well.
Harun:
Will do. You stay safe, Dehya.
Watch over the trade route and wait for your moment
Dehya:
This should be the place. Let's find a spot to hide and bide our time.
Dehya:
It's gonna come down to a fight one way or another, so let's all be careful.
Paimon:
No need to worry! He knows his way around a fight.
Dehya:
Haha, I'm not worried about that! What I meant is that we probably shouldn't go too hard on the enemy. After all, we still need to get information out of them.
Dehya:
Ah, here they come! You ready?
Dehya:
Let's not give them a chance to react and end this quickly.
Talk to Sattar
Sattar:
A—Argh!
Sattar:
Y—You're... the Flame-Mane!
Dehya:
Good, that saves me an introduction. Alright, time for a little talk. Are you buddies with Dakan Al-Ahmar now? Tell me, what're they after?
Sattar:
Hmph... You know the code of being a mercenary just like everyone else. The first rule is to never divulge key information about our employer. What makes you think I'd talk?
Dehya:
Heh, that might have worked on an amateur, but I know you're just looking to protect your reputation.
Dehya:
Think about it, though. What's your reputation worth if you won't have the other tools you need to succeed in this line of work? Tools like, I dunno... your limbs, or eyes?
Dehya:
You've got five seconds. You might want to think twice about how much your employer's information is worth to you.
Paimon:
Wh—Whoa!
Dehya:
I'm not joking around. We can do this the easy way, or the painful way.
Dehya:
Two seconds...
Sattar:
I'll save you the trouble... Hmph!
Dehya:
Huh!? Are you crazy!?
Dehya:
He tried to bite off his own tongue! Quick, search the area for any first aid supplies!
With Dehya's emergency treatment, the bleeding in Sattar's mouth is brought under control...
Dehya:
Ugh, I definitely didn't expect him to go that far. Thankfully, the wound wasn't too deep, and he just passed out from the pain.
Paimon:
But why would he be so extreme...?
Dehya:
I just wanted to test his mettle. You can get a lot of mercenaries to talk just by threatening them.
Dehya:
I didn't expect him to be willing to go through so much pain just to deny us some intel.
Paimon:
Well, he's out cold for now... We could wait for him to wake up, but maybe it's not a good idea to interrogate him any further... What should we do?
Dehya:
Yeah, don't worry about it. It'll be a waste of time to interrogate him again after that. He might just hurt himself again if we start asking.
Dehya:
There are lots of goods around here. Let's search the area, maybe we'll be able to find something.
Dehya:
...I'm really sorry.
Look for clues among the goods
Paimon:
We found a piece of paper with a bunch of names on it! Maybe it's a record of something?
Dehya:
Lemme take a look. If this really is a merchant caravan, they should have a record of their transactions.
Dehya:
Hmm... Yep, I see an entry for Dakan Al-Ahmar right here. Kusayla, Idrisi, Bashar, and Tikriti...
Dehya:
All familiar names. Dakan Al-Ahmar has been trading for a hefty supply of food, weapons, and medicine. It seems that in the past, they used to receive some Canned Knowledge as well.
Dehya:
This caravan is just one link in their logistics chain. Once in the rainforest, the caravan will exchange the looted goods for Mora, and the funds will then be passed to a specific person.
Dehya:
That person will then pack the caravan full of necessary goods, which will then be brought right back to Dakan Al-Ahmar...
Dehya:
...Wait. Why is there no Mora value recorded for the final transaction?
Paimon:
Hmm? No value?
Dehya:
Yeah. Every transaction before the last one was marked with an exact amount of Mora. But the final one, where they paid for everything to be brought back to the desert... was simply marked as "delivered."
Traveler:
Maybe the Mora amounts just happened to cancel each other out?
Dehya:
Hmm, perhaps, but they couldn't have known how much they would make off selling the loot. Do they not care about profit margins at all?
Dehya:
Anyway, the next part's the records of the goods themselves. There are a lot of entries... everything was probably sourced from the rainforest.
Dehya:
Huh!?
Paimon:
What's wrong?
Dehya:
Shahzaman Homayani...
Paimon:
Homayani!? You mean Dunyarzad's family?
Paimon:
Uhh, c—could it just be another family with the same last name?
Dehya:
I'd be surprised to find someone with the exact same first and last name. Shahzaman Homayani is Dunyarzad's father, and the head of the Homayani family.
Dehya:
Just what the heck is going on here...
Dehya:
I'm sorry... You're right. I'll consider what we've found, and not jump to conclusions just yet.
Dehya:
But what this piece of paper confirms is that the Homayani family has been providing goods to Dakan Al-Ahmar.
Paimon:
What if the Homayanis have been kept in the dark, and don't know they've been trading with Dakan Al-Ahmar?
Dehya:
That's a possibility, but if that was the case, why has this caravan specifically named Shahzaman as their person of contact?
Dehya:
They could have just as easily bought goods such as food and medicine directly from Caravan Ribat or Port Ormos.
Dehya:
Yeah... Funding violence and looting. The brigade gets the goods, and he is paid the proceeds from the sale of the loot.
Paimon:
B—But why would he do something like this? It's not like the Homayanis are in need of money...
Dehya:
I honestly have no idea...
Dehya:
I've been to their estate many times, and I've never noticed anything suspicious.
Dehya:
The only potentially large expenditure I can think of would be the treatment costs for Dunyarzad's Eleazar. Maybe they borrowed a lot of Mora in the past?
Dehya:
But that's still just a speculation. I don't think the master would stoop so low to make Mora.
Traveler:
I don't think Dunyarzad knows anything about this, either.
Dehya:
You're probably right. I know my lady's personality, and she wouldn't deliberately keep something like this from us.
Paimon:
But what should we do now? All we've found is just another mystery...
Traveler:
If we want to get to the bottom of this, we won't be able to turn back.
Dehya:
Hmm...
Dehya:
If you ask me, we already have no choice but to confront her about this.
Dehya:
I'm not worried, it's too early to make a verdict yet. I still have faith in the Homayanis.
Dehya:
Let's go find my lady again. We'll tell her everything, and see if she's willing to lend us her support.
Dehya:
If we're lucky, we can not only figure out the mystery of this paper, but also follow the trail of breadcrumbs to the people responsible at Dakan Al-Ahmar.
Paimon:
Uhh... Dehya, are you sure this is the best decision? What if instead of getting the help we need, we just end up revealing everything we've discovered to the enemy?
Dehya:
I've considered that possibility, but even still, I want to tell her what we've found. I think I owe her that much... True friendship is built on trust.
Dehya:
She showed genuine concern for me when we first brought up the topic. I can't repay her kindness with doubt and suspicion.
Dehya:
That's not how I deal with people.
Paimon:
You're right. Paimon wants to trust Dunyarzad. too!
Traveler:
I hope we'll be of help to her.
Dehya:
Yeah. Let's pay another visit to Sumeru City.
During your investigation, you accidentally stumbled upon Dunyarzad's father's name. After discussing the matter with Dehya, she decides that Dunyarzad should be informed of all that has transpired...
Return to Sumeru City to talk to Dunyarzad
Dehya:
We're back, my lady.
Dunyarzad:
Ah, you're back a lot sooner than I expected! You mustn't have run into any trouble, then. Well, how did it go? What did you come up with?
Dehya:
Actually, we are still investigating. It's just that... we've discovered something strange.
Dunyarzad:
I see... the clues you found have led you back here in the city?
Dehya:
Something like that, yeah.
Dunyarzad:
You all look a little dispirited. Whatever you found must not have been very encouraging after all.
Dunyarzad:
Why don't you discuss it with me? Maybe I'll be able to say something to cheer you up.
Dehya:
It's okay, my lady, it's not so much about me being upset with my father or anything like that... Ugh, how should I put this...
Dunyarzad:
So something IS wrong. Even the Traveler and Paimon have been uncharacteristically quiet...
Dunyarzad:
On any other day, Paimon would have already waved to me with a smile and shouted "Dunyarzad, we're baaaack!"
Dunyarzad:
So tell me, what happened?
Paimon:
Uh, w—well...
Dehya:
My lady, please prepare yourself for what we're going to tell you next. It concerns the master...
Dunyarzad:
The master... You mean my father?
Dunyarzad:
Okay, I understand. Don't worry about me, I'll listen as attentively as I can.
Dehya manages to explain the results of the investigation to Dunyarzad.
Dunyarzad:
My father... has been supplying goods to Dakan Al-Ahmar?
Dehya:
Yeah. It makes as little sense to us as it does to you.
Dehya:
I've never doubted the master's integrity, so I'm having a real hard time rationalizing how he could ever support an infamous brigade like them.
Dehya:
Maybe he's not actually aware of the full story, and just stumbled into the deal by accident...
Traveler:
That feels unlikely, though.
Dunyarzad:
I can't help but agree with the Traveler.
Paimon:
Huh? You mean you feel the same way, Dunyarzad?
Dunyarzad:
Thank you for sharing all this information with me.
Dunyarzad:
Since you've told me everything you know... I should also tell you about some doubts that I've been harboring for quite a while.
Dunyarzad:
In the past, I thought that my father hired a bodyguard for me so that I wouldn't run away and get lost.
Dunyarzad:
However, there are plenty of capable mercenaries in the Corps of Thirty. Why did my father go out of his way to hire Dehya?
Dehya:
Ah, about that... well, the Homayanis really needed bodyguards, so they reached out to the Blazing Beasts.
Dehya:
Later, the master told me that I was one of the best mercenaries he'd ever seen, and that I should stick around to become one of his bodyguards.
Dehya:
He offered me a pile of Mora, so I just signed on...
Dunyarzad:
Well, but that didn't really answer my question. Just think about it... why did my father specifically reach out to the Blazing Beasts?
Dehya:
Err, maybe the Corps of Thirty just didn't have anyone available? Or maybe someone recommended us? I've never given it too much thought...
Dehya:
...I think I get what you're saying. You think none of this was a coincidence.
Dunyarzad:
Precisely. At first glance, nothing seems strange or out of place, but there are many parts of the story that don't actually make any sense.
Dunyarzad:
If my father had always been in contact with Dakan Al-Ahmar... then it would make sense for him to bring Dehya into our house.
Paimon:
You mean, the goal all along was to get Dehya to be your bodyguard?
Dehya:
No no no, that's too much of a stretch. I cut all my ties with my father a long time ago. He has no control over my life anymore.
Dunyarzad:
But that still doesn't rule out the possibility that your father has still been trying to influence your life without you knowing.
Dehya:
Hmm...
Dehya:
So... the master was not likely an innocent victim in all of this?
Traveler:
That's what things are looking like at this point.
Paimon:
Sorry we put all this on you so suddenly, Dunyarzad...
Dunyarzad:
It's okay, Paimon. I should actually be thanking you.
Dunyarzad:
Regardless of his reasons, if my father has truly been funding a violent group of mercenaries, then it's my duty to bring him back to reason.
Dehya:
But is that... really the right thing to do?
Dehya:
My father has committed many atrocities, and deserves all the punishment that he has coming to him. I have zero sympathy for him. You may call me an ungrateful child, but my feelings will remain the same.
Dehya:
However... the Homayani family has treated me with nothing but generosity and kindness.
Dehya:
If we decide to investigate this further, we could end up implicating the entire Homayani family. I would be biting the hand that's fed me over all these years...
Paimon:
Dehya...
Dunyarzad:
It's alright, Dehya. If anyone were to ask, you could always just say that I'm the one who instructed you to get to the bottom of this.
Dehya:
You don't have to do that, my lady. I'm not conflicted because I'm afraid of taking responsibility... Besides, you're the one we should all be worried about right now.
Paimon:
Hey, it's still too early to give up hope! What was that thing about friendship again...
Traveler:
True friendship is built on trust.
Paimon:
Right, yeah, trust! You said that yourself, Dehya.
Paimon:
Besides, there's no point on getting all riled up before we've even confirmed all the facts!
Dehya:
Thank you, everyone. That makes a lot of sense. I guess I should always remember the trust that I've placed in people.
Dehya:
In which case... my lady, could you ask the master to come out and have a chat with us?
Dunyarzad:
Sure thing. I also hope he'll be able to give us a logical explanation. Let's meet at the usual place, then.
Paimon:
The... usual place? Ah, right!
Wait for Dunyarzad at the usual place
Dehya:
Thank you for coming, sir.
Dehya:
Please allow me to introduce these two. This is Traveler, and next to him is his travel companion, Paimon.
Shahzaman:
Ah yes, my daughter has mentioned them from time to time. It's a privilege to finally meet them in person.
Shahzaman:
But we may skip all the pleasantries for now, what is the important matter you wished to discuss with me today?
Dehya:
Well, we wanted to bring this transaction record to your attention. There's something on this record that we're all pretty curious about...
Dehya explains the issue to Shahzaman, and admits her doubts to him.
Shahzaman:
So that's what you've found, huh... Seems like I can't keep everything from you much longer.
Dehya:
If you wouldn't mind, we'd like an explanation.
Shahzaman:
Well, it's a long and difficult story, and to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing.
Shahzaman:
What I do know though, Dehya, is that the truth will bring you no solace. If anything, it will likely cause you a great amount of anguish.
Dehya:
Wait... me?
Shahzaman:
Yes. I understand perfectly why you came to see me, and I am touched by your collective commitment to do the right thing.
Shahzaman:
But knowledge always comes at a price, and sometimes, as they say, ignorance is bliss.
Shahzaman:
Your father Kusayla and I both believed that.
Shahzaman:
Of course, you have the right to seek and learn the truth, but I must warn you...
Shahzaman:
That the facts of this matter may reduce everything you've built for yourself into sand blowing in the wind.
Shahzaman:
If you must proceed, then Kusayla's heartfelt efforts will also fade into the wind like a fleeting mirage.
Dehya:
His... heartfelt efforts? I'm sorry sir, but I'm not sure I follow.
Dehya:
I've made it this far in life without a single drop of my father's support.
Dehya:
I have my own ideals and ways of looking at the world, as well as people and causes that I've chosen to cherish and fight for... None of these things have anything to do with him.
Dehya:
I came here today to support you as the head of the Homayani family. No warning will change my stance on that.
Shahzaman:
*sigh* I understand. Then let me tell you a little story.
Shahzaman:
Our family once needed to take a trip to the desert when Dunyarzad was just a baby. Along the way, we were attacked by bandits.
Shahzaman:
They had superior numbers, and quickly overpowered our bodyguards. When all seemed lost, a group of passerby Eremites lent us their support.
Shahzaman:
Those Eremites were Kusayla's brigade, Dakan Al-Ahmar.
Shahzaman:
Kusayla's men told me that the attackers were Eremite mercenaries just like themselves. I was shocked. Why would Dakan Al-Ahmar go so far to save us, and not spare the fellow Eremites?
Shahzaman:
Kusayla was grinning and walked over to play with baby Dunyarzad. She was startled by his unfamiliar face and nearly started crying.
Dunyarzad:
Really? I... never knew...
Shahzaman:
He said that he had no particular reason to help us. He just took pity on us because he had a daughter about the same age.
Shahzaman:
We started talking about our children, and I sensed that he was a devoted father.
Shahzaman:
To repay his kindness, I hired his brigade to help out at our estate for a time, and offered everyone generous remuneration.
Dehya:
So that's what happened...
Shahzaman:
It was many years before I saw him again. I almost didn't recognize him the next time he came knocking on my door.
Shahzaman:
The man I knew to be strong and healthy had been reduced to a... shell of himself. He couldn't even walk anymore without his cane.
Dehya:
So what happened to him? He was perfectly fine when I left the brigade...
Shahzaman:
I'm not too sure myself. The only thing that didn't change was his cheery disposition. He said there was absolutely nothing to worry about and that he had gotten into a fight, that was all.
Shahzaman:
He then suddenly asked me if Dunyarzad, now that she had grown, would need a bodyguard of her own.
Shahzaman:
At the time, Dunyarzad was going through a particularly severe bout of her Eleazar. There was no need for her to have a bodyguard when she could barely leave the house...
Shahzaman:
But he kept coming back to the topic... "C'mon, it never hurts to be safe." "How do you know a bodyguard won't come in handy one day?"
Shahzaman:
I was completely lost at first, until he recommended the "Blazing Beasts," and in particular, a mercenary named Dehya.
Paimon:
So he was the one who recommended Dehya to you!
Shahzaman:
Indeed. He didn't say it out loud, but it was clear that he saw Deshret's Relics as an evil group who would eventually corrupt every member in their ranks.
Shahzaman:
He was already beyond redemption, but he hoped that he would be able to detach his daughter from the vicious world of mercenary life.
Shahzaman:
If Dehya could stay in my house and keep working as a bodyguard, then gradually her affinity for the desert would decrease, and she'd be able to leave her previous life behind.
Dunyarzad:
And that's why you offered her such generous compensation?
Shahzaman:
Yes, but not just because of that. From the moment that he asked me for that favor, I also began to see Dehya as my own daughter.
Shahzaman:
And that's also why I tried to persuade you to stay when you asked for permission to leave. I was willing to spend however much it took...
Shahzaman:
Kusayla saved my daughter and me all those years ago in the desert. I could never refuse him entrusting his daughter to me.
Dehya:
Ugh, he was always like that... Acting like he's oh-so-smart and self-righteous...
Shahzaman:
Kusayla said that he'd reimburse me for a portion of Dehya's fees. I refused to take any Mora from him, but he'd always send me funds anyway.
Shahzaman:
Eventually, I just accepted them as a token of his gratitude. That went on for a while, until I received another letter from him a few years ago.
Shahzaman:
The letter contained a request to help him buy food, weapons, medicine, and even explosive materials.
Paimon:
Wait, isn't that around the time that Dakan Al-Ahmar started becoming more aggressive?
Shahzaman:
That's right. When I started to hear some nasty rumors, I became wary, and wanted to meet him face-to-face to discuss things.
Shahzaman:
But by then, he was no longer receptive to my requests to talk. If I had to guess... it's probably because he doesn't want to put Dehya at risk.
Traveler:
But by that same token, he should have also stopped asking you for materials.
Shahzaman:
That thought occurred to me as well. I figured that he probably came to me for help because he had nobody else to turn to.
Shahzaman:
After some deliberation, I decided to send him some food and medicine. I turned down all his requests for explosives and weaponry.
Shahzaman:
I am aware that even such a reduced gesture of support could lead to others coming to harm, but I could not simply reject his plea for help.
Shahzaman:
In the end, it probably was the wrong decision. I plugged my ears to the rumors and just chose the solution that made me feel least guilty about myself.
Dehya:
None of the things he's doing right now make any sense if he's just trying to keep me from getting tangled up in his world...
Dehya:
If all he wants to do is steer clear of me, then maybe he shouldn't have brought me into this world in the first place.
Paimon:
Oh no, Dehya, please don't feel that way...
Dehya:
I'm just angry because I can't wrap my head around any of his actions.
Dehya:
Another way? I dunno... I knew him, and he was nothing more than a childish brute. I can't understand what's going through his head.
Dehya:
But I guess you do have a point... We haven't uncovered the whole truth yet. We still need to figure out his exact actions and reasoning for these last few years.
Shahzaman:
I'll do my best to help. Of course, anything between the two of you would need to be resolved between you and him alone.
Shahzaman:
I don't know Kusayla's exact whereabouts. Outside of supplying his brigade with some goods, I tried my best to avoid getting involved any further with him.
Shahzaman:
However, there's a man on the list named Jawad. He used to be a mercenary in the desert, and is now a member of the Corps of Thirty.
Shahzaman:
He's responsible for supplying weapons and liaising with Dakan Al-Ahmar's merchant caravan. I think he should know Kusayla's whereabouts.
Shahzaman:
I've heard that he likes to have a few drinks alone and enjoy the cool wind at night outside of the tavern. Maybe you'll be able to find him there.
Dehya:
Understood, thank you sir. Then I guess this is bye for now, unless...
Dunyarzad:
I'll stay and be with my father here... To be honest, I'm still a little dazed, and haven't finished processing everything quite yet.
Dunyarzad:
My father has indeed done something wrong, but if I think about it, I'm also not sure if there was a right way to handle this problem.
Dunyarzad:
I feel like... our only course of action is to turn everything we know over to the Corps of Thirty, and let them render judgment...
Shahzaman:
Yes. I am prepared to accept whatever verdict they choose.
Shahzaman:
It's time to face my mistakes...
Go look for <color=#00E1FFFF>Jawad</color> outside the tavern <color=#00E1FFFF>at night</color>
Jawad:
Huh? Who are you guys?
Dehya:
I know what you've been up to. Smuggling weapons to violent brigades in the desert while working for the Corps? Pretty bold if you ask me.
Jawad:
Shh, keep your voice down! How do you know all that!?
Jawad:
Come with me, we should take this elsewhere. I'll be happy to talk things over once we're somewhere private.
You go to the back of the tavern.
Jawad:
This place should do... Alright, back to my question, how did you all know about me?
Dehya:
Don't worry about that for now. You know what kind of punishment you'll face once we report you to the Corps, I assume?
Jawad:
Wait wait wait, there's no need to jump the gun! Let's talk this out. What are your terms?
Paimon:
So what's in it for you anyway? Mora?
Jawad:
Uhh... Well, I was a little tight on money at the time, and Kusayla took good care of me in the past...
Jawad:
I weighed it in my mind, and I couldn't find a reason to turn the opportunity down. I wouldn't only be helping my benefactor, but I could also make some quick Mora...
Dehya:
Let me tell you how it is. We're investigating Dakan Al-Ahmar, and we're gonna put an end to their operations.
Dehya:
If you provide some help for us, then we might just put in a good word later to reduce the terms of your punishment.
Jawad:
Hey, why don't we discuss this a little first? Listen, I made quite a bit of Mora from my last run. Just give me a number and I'm sure we can...
Dehya:
Shut it.
Dehya:
My patience is running out. You should know when a mercenary is after something other than money.
Jawad:
Alright, alright, sheesh. But ya gotta promise you'll put in some nice words for me later.
Jawad:
They're always on the move. Here's the spot they were at last time I made my delivery to the desert.
Jawad:
Feel free to go have a look. I'm just telling you, though, it's not on me if they're not there anymore.
Dehya:
Sure, and then you can forget about any nice words from us.
Jawad:
Hey, c'mon! Now you're just being unreasonable!
Dehya:
Really? And how do I know you're not leading us straight into a trap? Don't forget, you're the one with no bargaining chips.
Jawad:
Alright, I get it, I get it... Why don't you go take a look, and if they're not there anymore, I'll try to figure out something else for you all.
Dehya:
Now that's more like it. Let's move.
Dehya:
And as for you... try to stick around the city until we get back. You don't want us to call the folks from the Corps and have them drag you back to the city.
Go to the location of Dakan Al-Ahmar
Dehya:
Hmm, seems like we're in luck. That should be their camp right up ahead.
Dehya:
Let's go. We'll finally get to the bottom of this ourselves.
Smash through all obstructions
Dehya:
I'm here to see Kusayla. Tell him to get out here!
Tikriti:
Huh? Dehya? Why are you here?
Dehya:
Haven't you all done enough?
Idrisi:
Oh, so are you also here to stop us?
Bashar:
Stay outta this! It's got nothing to do with you!
Talk to Idrisi and the others
Bashar:
Sh—She's so strong...
Dehya:
Enough fighting. We all know each other, and I don't want to take things too far.
Dehya:
Just bring Kusayla to me! There's no use hiding him anymore!
Tikriti:
...
Dehya:
Did you understand a single word I just said? Or do I need to bash your skull in some more?
Idrisi:
Alright, everyone, let's all just calm down for a second.
Idrisi:
Um, Dehya, the boss can't come out and see you anymore.
Idrisi:
He died a long time ago.
Dehya:
What...?
Bashar:
Seems like you've been out of the loop for a while. Guess that's for the best, though... at least that's what the old man wanted.
Dehya:
When did he die? What happened to him?
Tikriti:
A few years ago, Kusayla broke up Dakan Al-Ahmar, and went to the Deshret's Relics headquarters by himself.
Paimon:
So is that when you guys started acting up?
Bashar:
We would prefer to call it "taking revenge." Every last person in Deshret's Relics must pay in blood for what they did!
Idrisi:
Let me start from the beginning. Dehya, do you know how the head of the Relics maintained order internally?
Dehya:
Overwhelming strength, and unquestionable authority?
Idrisi:
Those were a part of it, yes. But just those on their own weren't enough. They had another tool at their disposal. They called it a person's "record."
Idrisi:
Regardless of whether they joined by their own will or were coerced, every person in Deshret's Relics were forced to leave a record of themselves at headquarters.
Idrisi:
Whether it be their deepest sin, some unforgivable act, or their most immoral exploit, the record served both as a symbol of loyalty and the perfect material for blackmail.
Idrisi:
That's precisely it. Every one of us have a record... me, Bashar, Tikriti, and all the boys who grew up with Dehya and ended up joining our ranks.
Idrisi:
But you, Dehya... you were never asked to provide a record, were you?
Dehya:
I... I never even knew this was a requirement...
Idrisi:
You were probably the only person in all of Deshret's Relics who didn't know about it.
Bashar:
Ever since you were born, boss had been trying to shield you from this organization's sinister rules.
Bashar:
Not only that, but he also banned all of us from committing any nefarious acts. He said he'd take care of the dues we had to pay regularly to headquarters...
Bashar:
But in the end, he was just an ordinary person. What could he do?
Bashar:
He was forced to go to headquarters again and again to account for missed dues and incomplete records. He'd come up with all kinds of excuses, and get beaten up as a result.
Tikriti:
We all knew he was doing that for you. He wanted to get you out of this world, no matter what it took.
Paimon:
...And that was why he became a shell of himself, and couldn't walk without a cane.
Dehya:
Wait, but that doesn't make any sense. I didn't know about any of this, and I'd never seen him get injured or beaten...
Idrisi:
Because you were too young at the time. How would you ever tell between wounds from a beating and wounds from battle?
Idrisi:
When you left home after that final argument with him, he seemed to age by a decade overnight. Even his hair went gray.
Dehya:
So, even the Blazing Beasts were...
Bashar:
Yep, it was all his doing. Had he not arranged them to come to you, you probably would have been reduced to a pulp before you ever left the desert.
Idrisi:
A few years ago, boss said he needed to make another trip to headquarters. He was already pretty weak then, and we all assumed he was going to get beaten again.
Idrisi:
I suggested that he hand the role of leadership over to me, but he said there was no longer any need, since Dakan Al-Ahmar would soon be no more.
Idrisi:
His words made no sense to me, but that night, we heard that a massive fire tore through headquarters, and razed everyone's "records" to ash.
Tikriti:
Everyone gained their freedom that night. Many members fled... not just from our ranks, but from the other brigades as well.
Tikriti:
But how could we leave with a clear conscience? All of us, who knew exactly what had happened...
Bashar:
The boss can't have just died for nothing! Those heartless jerks at headquarters took him from us!
Idrisi:
From that point on, the sole purpose of Dakan Al-Ahmar became revenge.
Idrisi:
The big fire that boss started was quite a blow to headquarters' strength. It's given us the opportunity to launch our attack.
Idrisi:
Even though we're outnumbered, we've vowed to see our revenge through to the very end.
Traveler:
But Deshret's Relics haven't been the only victims of your revenge.
Idrisi:
There were people from headquarters who changed their names and went into hiding. Some fled to other brigades, and others escaped to the rainforest.
Idrisi:
But we won't let any of them escape our wrath. They'll all pay for what they've done.
Bashar:
We've suffered plenty of losses as well. To keep going, we need an enormous amount of supplies... from food and medicine to weaponry and explosives.
Bashar:
All we can do is exchange our loot for Mora, and then use that to get supplies.
Bashar:
We forged boss's handwriting and sent out many letters to his former friends. Thankfully, many people were willing to come to our aid.
Bashar:
We were also able to attract many mercenaries who shared our goal. We've endured unspeakable pain to win many impossible battles...
Bashar:
Deshret's Relics have become weaker and weaker, and now... we finally have an opportunity to directly strike their headquarters.
Paimon:
Uh... Paimon doesn't know what to say anymore.
Idrisi:
Hah, we do know right from wrong. But we were sinners from the very beginning... We do not deserve the freedom that the boss won for us with his life.
Idrisi:
Boss always loved his old-fashioned hero stories... those tales about sacrificing yourself to save the world.
Idrisi:
We used to always laugh at him for it, but in the end, he really went and lived those stories out himself...
Idrisi:
As for me, I never considered myself a hero. We're all the lowest of the low. We have no right to even imagine such an existence.
Idrisi:
But maybe those hero stories he liked foreshadowed everything that was to come. The spirit of the hero touched all those he had saved, and more and more people joined his cause...
Idrisi:
Maybe we were all just acting along with the play in the beginning, but as we acted the parts and recited the lines, we were drawn in, and now we want to see the story through to the end...
Idrisi:
I'm sorry, Dehya. I know you always found us insufferable ever since you were young. Just think of this as a madman ranting.
Dehya:
...
Dehya:
I'll go with you.
Paimon:
Huh? Dehya, you want to go with them?
Dehya:
I grew up with these guys, and I know they're not bad people. It's just that some situations get so bad that it's difficult to tell good from evil...
Dehya:
All I know is that Deshret's Relics must be destroyed.
Dehya:
Furthermore... I want to go see the place for myself. I want to know if my father is still there...
Dehya:
I know you don't want to get involved in this, so there's no need for you to tag along. I can do this on my own.
Paimon:
Yeah, Paimon feels like we'd only regret it if we don't see this through to the end...
Dehya:
Thank you. We'll be a lot stronger together with you.
Idrisi:
Haha, I bet boss would lose his mind if he ever knew you'd join us at the very last moment like this.
Tikriti:
Considering all the losses and injuries we've sustained... We can't afford to turn down someone as powerful as you.
Dehya:
He can think whatever he wants...
Dehya:
...But the fact is, I owe him this much.
The truth is revealed. Dehya's father has long passed. Still, his comrades in arms seek to avenge him. Before judgment falls, Dehya decides to lend them her aid.
Go to the hiding place of Deshret's Relics
Paimon:
Is this the entrance? We sure didn't run into much trouble on the way here.
Dehya:
Should be. I don't think they have enough manpower left to post guards and defend their perimeters.
Speak with your associates
Paimon:
Wow, Paimon didn't expect it to look like this on the inside...
Idrisi:
They should all be holed up in here. Dunno how many people they've got left, though.
Dehya:
Who cares? We'll round up all of 'em.
Tikriti:
Still, we should be careful. Even if they've only got one shot left, it could still take us out.
Traveler:
I've fought through many situations like this before.
Dehya:
Yeah, we'll know what they're really capable of once we've landed some hits on 'em.
Dehya:
Deshret's Relics may have been a force to be reckoned with before, but their name means nothing now.
Idrisi:
Yeah, they don't stand a chance with you here. I'll take the lead, I've been here once before.
Proceed further
Idrisi:
This way, follow me! We're almost there!
Crowd:
Ugh!
Paimon:
Wait, they went charging ahead without checking for any traps!
Shortly after the members of Dakan Al-Ahmar raced forward, the gate suddenly shuts in front of you.
Dehya:
Hey! You guys okay?
Bashar:
It seems like we just got trapped in here... don't think we triggered anything else.
Idrisi:
Watch out, the enemy's coming from ahead!
Tikriti:
Well, now that things have come to this, seems we'll have to fight our way through.
Idrisi:
Don't worry about us, we knew something like this could happen! Go and take a look around — there could still be another way through!
Idrisi:
Let's go, we can't let the boss down!
Paimon:
Let's check if there's another way! The sooner we can make it through to help them, the better!
Dehya:
Let's see...
Dehya:
I think I see a way through over there, but it's being blocked by something. Let's try our luck with that mechanism.
Paimon:
Okay, let's go!
Look for a different path
Dehya:
Another mechanism like the one before, but this one's being blocked off in the middle.
Paimon:
We just need to adjust it a little!
Proceed further
Mishal:
I wasn't expecting anyone to make it through from the other side.
Mishal:
But as a desert-dweller, I suppose we should be used to our folks defying all expectations.
Dehya:
Don't waste your breath. You have nowhere to run.
Mishal:
Run? Heh, had I wanted to run, I would have fled a thousand times already.
Mishal:
I witnessed the golden age of Deshret's Relics. Even if I could leave this place behind, all that awaits me now are endless days of humiliation and ruin.
Mishal:
Even now, my brothers and I still believe in one thing.
Mishal:
"The greatest should never live to remember their fall."
Dehya:
Hmph... so you want to go out in a blaze of glory.
Mishal:
Let us draw our weapons. We will show them the true power King Deshret bestowed upon his followers.
Mishal:
They are but two, while we hold within ourselves the entirety of the Relics' glory.
Fight back against the remaining members of Deshret's Relics
Hamzah:
Wave one, charge! Eliminate them!
Hamzah:
Don't think that you've won. We're just getting started!
Hamzah:
King Deshret will not abandon any one of his followers!
Hamzah:
Brothers, with me! This is where we'll prove our faith!
Dehya:
Do you all just want to die!?
Hamzah:
None of us planned to leave this place alive!
Talk to Dehya about how to respond
Dehya:
The commander has finally fallen.
Paimon:
But they're still coming at us!
Paimon:
This place is like a gladiator's ring... They just keep coming, no matter how many we beat!
Mishal:
Yes, keep fighting! There's no need to fear, and no need to back down. This is our last stand!
Dehya:
When the next wave comes, try to draw away their attacks.
Dehya:
I'm going to see if I can take out that high platform.
Idrisi:
Get out of my way!
Bashar:
Come and face me, Mishal!
Mishal:
Ah, so they've broken through the front as well...
Scared Mercenary:
Apologies, Mishal, they just — they fight like absolute mad men! No matter how much we throw at them, they just keep coming for more!
Scared Mercenary:
ARGH!
Mishal:
So, it would seem like this is the end.
Idrisi:
Time to pay for everything you've done, Mishal.
Mishal:
Heh, you think I would give you that opportunity?
Mishal:
I will be buried in the sand alongside all the rest of our fading glory.
Idrisi:
Hey, wait!
Mishal ends his life.
Bashar:
We were too late...
Dehya:
...It's over, there's no more need to fight.
Dehya:
But if you're still going to cling onto your so-called mercenaries' pride, then I'll give you all a good beating as well.
Hesitant Mercenary:
...
Tikriti:
Hey, Dehya! I've found the mechanism. I'll get you all back up here right away!
Dehya:
Let's go.
Go to the upper floor
Shakhbout:
Who are you filthy rats, and why are you always pestering us?
Dehya:
Hah, you call yourself a member of the infamous Deshret's Relics, and you still can't even tell who's made it all the way to your headquarters?
Shakhbout:
Who knows what intent a bunch of rats may have? We try to catch a couple, and you all just show up on the other side instead. How are we supposed to figure out what you're after?
Idrisi:
Hey, have you ever heard of a man by the name of Kusayla?
Shakhbout:
Wh—Why would I know? It's not like I'm in charge or anything!
Dehya:
This is your last chance to talk.
Shakhbout:
H—Hey, I said I don't know anything! I'm just an average member here. I'm telling the truth!
Shakhbout:
If you're here to find someone, why don't you look through the records yourselves? Who can remember every name and face with so many people coming in and out every day?
Dehya:
The irony.
Dehya:
His life became a light for so many, yet to others, it wasn't even worth remembering.
Dehya:
Where's the records room? Answer me.
Shakhbout:
It's right over there, all the files are in there! You can go through them as much as you want, it's not like any of them still matter anyway!
Dehya:
I mean the old records room.
Shakhbout:
Th—The old records room? You mean... the one that got burned down?
Shakhbout:
Kusayla! Ah yeah, I remember him now. The guy who could hardly walk!
Idrisi:
Watch your mouth! That's our boss you're talking about!
Shakhbout:
He was definitely faking it! We all let down our guard as soon as we saw him come hobbling in...
Shakhbout:
But in the short time it supposedly took him to take a dump, he'd already gotten away, and started a fire in the records room...
Shakhbout:
He couldn't have possibly outrun us if he wasn't a fraud!
Shakhbout:
...And after that, Deshret's Relics fell into complete disarray.
Dehya:
Stop wasting our time. Every one of us here is perfectly aware of what he had done.
Dehya:
Tell me. Where is the old records room?
Shakhbout:
It's just over there, go see it for yourself if it means that much to you!
Shakhbout:
There's nothing left in there but ashes. No human could ever survive that kind of inferno.
Idrisi:
Bashar, Tikriti, let's go. We'll leave the others here to guard these guys.
Idrisi:
Spare them no mercy if they try anything.
Go to the records room
Dehya:
So this was his final destination.
Dehya:
How did he do it...? Getting past all the guards with a limp, and sneaking in here to start a fire...
Dehya:
If he was nimble enough to do that, then he must've been able to get out of here after starting the fire, right?
Paimon:
Dehya...
Dehya:
I'm sorry, I know it's just wishful thinking. Let's look around. Maybe we can find something that's been left behind.
Everyone searches around the room...
Paimon:
Hmm? Is this a cane? It must be the one that Dehya's father used...
Idrisi:
Kusayla...
Bashar:
Thanks for everything, boss.
Tikriti:
We're fortunate to somehow find that cane after that fire.
Idrisi:
Let's split up and look around some more. What if something else has been left behind?
Tikriti:
But what else could survive a fire like that?
Dehya:
...
You find the cane Kusayla left behind. Everyone is surprised when Dehya pulls an old blade out from it. The mercenaries recognized it as the toy sword Kusayla had used when he and little Dehya performed fairy tales together.
In one of those stories, Dehya slew a dragon with the sword, but she was reluctant to say the victory lines, and Kusayla was forced to give the speech himself. Many years have passed, and Dehya, whose heart is filled with mixed feelings at the sight of this memento, decides to make up for her regrets.
"I hereby... proclaim our victory..."
"Evil shall plague us no more... Dad."
Go back to Sumeru City
The whole story was shared with the Corps of Thirty, which finally joined the investigation in the name of restoring order.
The members of Deshret's Relics were brought to justice, and the members of Dakan Al-Ahmar turned themselves in to the authorities.
The cane that once belonged to Kusayla was given to Dehya as a part of her inheritance.
Dehya was completely silent on the way back to Sumeru City.
Comfort Dehya at the tavern
Dehya:
Wh—What's this?
Paimon:
Don't you remember? You asked Paimon what she would do if she were to wake up tomorrow with loads of money!
Paimon:
And Paimon said that she would get boatloads of tasty snacks! You looked super confused at the time, but said it was an adorable thing to say!
Paimon:
These opportunities don't come by often, so today, Paimon's gonna treat you to a special crash course on Paimon's life philosophy!
Paimon:
Hey, c'mon! Paimon's not that stingy!
Paimon:
Anyway, the point is that you should eat to your heart's content! You'll feel better for sure once you've gotten something in your tummy!
Paimon:
Dunyarzad will also be here shortly! She's already heard that we're back.
Dehya:
Aw, thanks, you two. Honestly, this is very unlike me. I just had a lot on my mind on our way back, so I didn't know what to say...
Dehya:
My chest was filled with all kinds of intense emotions. They just shook me even more than all the feelings we've shared during our previous adventures.
Dehya:
But when everything came to an end, those emotions also vanished without a trace, and I was left feeling more empty than ever before.
Dehya:
It was as if... I'd lost the thing that was most important to me.
Traveler:
Everything just happened so fast.
Dehya:
Yeah, you're right. To many mercenaries, Mora is the most important thing in the world. But perhaps to us, it's the most worthless thing of all.
Dehya:
Idrisi and the others all used to say that they would quit if there was no Mora to be had. But when it came to avenging my father, there was no Mora to be made anywhere.
Dehya:
My reality shattered when I found out that the father who always told me hero stories was in fact a bad guy, but look at me now... am I any different?
Dehya:
Despite all my promises about never forgiving him, and never trying to understand him, I still went to such lengths to find out the truth, and nearly even shed tears for his sake...
Dehya:
We're hypocrites, all of us.
Traveler:
You should never question your true feelings, though.
Dehya:
Yeah, you're right. It's just a pity that we often only recognize our true feelings after it's already too late.
Dunyarzad:
You're back! Are all of you alright?
Paimon:
Ah, there she is!
Dunyarzad:
Yeah... Many people from the Corps of Thirty came over, and I just wrapped up everything with my dad. All I can do now is wait for their verdict...
Dunyarzad:
Huh? Dehya, you're looking quite down again.
Paimon:
Paimon will explain! A lot happened while we were gone...
Once Paimon finishes telling the story, Dunyarzad begins to cry. It takes some time for her to compose herself.
Dunyarzad:
I'm sorry, I really should have controlled my emotions better, I just... I just...
Dehya:
It's alright, my lady. You were hurt by all of this as well. Truth be told, I'm starting to feel a little guilty, watching you cry like this...
Dunyarzad:
But Dehya, your pain must be even worse. You shouldn't need to comfort me.
Dehya:
Hey, don't worry about me. If anything, this whole thing has finally shown me the difference between illusion and reality.
Dehya:
My father probably thought that people could settle into new lives as long as they moved to a new environment.
Dehya:
That thought has even crossed my mind a few times. It's like saying, "what's wrong with adapting to a new life?"
Dehya:
However, there was always something deep within my mind that refused to accept it. This impulse brought me great turmoil, and even made me feel ashamed for turning my back on your father's kindness...
Dehya:
But now that I consider it again, it all makes sense. The desert sands are a part of who I am, and I will never be able to lead a peaceful existence.
Dunyarzad:
I understand how you feel.
Dehya:
That doesn't mean I won't be making any changes to my life, though. As an example, I'm now thinking about taking on some small, odd jobs.
Dehya:
It's just like Idrisi said... I also want to catch up to my father, and become a character in his play.
Dehya:
Even if the ending of the story may be childish and ridiculous, it won't really matter...
Dunyarzad:
Isn't that neat though? You'll be a whole new kind of mercenary, one that's not out for Mora!
Dunyarzad:
Why don't we go for a change of scenery once we finish eating? What about stopping by the Grand Bazaar again?
Dehya:
Right, you said you wanted to get a rug for your family...
Paimon:
We'll come along, too!
Traveler:
It's always more fun when everyone's together.
Dehya:
Haha, I can't thank you enough for taking care of me this entire time.
Go to the Grand Bazaar to clear your head
Dunyarzad:
This rug here is quite something... the craftsmanship is exquisite, and the fabric is also of high quality.
Sattar:
Ah, here you are. Finally, I found you...
Paimon:
Hey, a—aren't you that mercenary who bit his tongue? You can still talk?
Paimon:
Wait... Are you here to take revenge on us?
Sattar:
Hah, what are you talking about? Do I look like I could take you all in a fight? I just came here to give you something. I'll be on my way to give myself up to the Corps after this.
Sattar:
Once I woke up, I hurried to Dakan Al-Ahmar's camp, hoping to alert them to your presence.
Sattar:
But when I got there, I found no one except the members who were still too injured to move.
Dehya:
Ah, so you probably got there after us...
Sattar:
Yeah, they told me that they had exacted their revenge, and everyone had turned themselves in to the authorities. Even that last camp was not going to last for much longer.
Sattar:
I had joined the cause to repay an old favor from Kusayla. Now that everyone's already turned themselves in, I might as well do the same.
Sattar:
One of the injured members gave this box to me, and told me that it contained some of the old man's last possessions.
Sattar:
Everything left in the camp will get confiscated, so I figured I should get this to you before the Corps could get their hands on it.
Dehya:
...Thank you.
Sattar:
No worries. We are all just living our own truths. There's no need to comment or judge anyone for it.
Paimon:
So this box contains everything that Dehya's father left behind... Huh, it feels lighter than expected.
Dehya:
Well, back in the day, the first thing he did with any Mora was spend it on things like drinks and meat.
Dehya:
But let's see what's inside...
Dehya:
Wh—What's this? It's just a bunch of junk! ...Ugh, it kinda stinks...
Dunyarzad:
Uhh... perhaps it's just been left unopened for too long?
Dehya:
A handwritten copy of a storybook... The paper's already yellowed, and it looks like it's about to fall apart...
Dehya:
It was against the Akademiya's rules to possess books for personal use. If he was going to break that rule, he could have at least copied something useful...
Paimon:
That probably means this was really important to him.
Dehya:
Ah, and here are a few bags of children's snacks... the packaging's completely deteriorated. Maybe that's where the smell was coming from.
Dunyarzad:
Did he get those for you?
Dehya:
Yeah, but here's the thing though... Even when I was a child, I was never a fan of these kinds of snacks. He'd always say that he got them for me, but in the end, he always ate more than I ever did...
Dehya:
Who even leaves snacks in a box like this, anyway? Isn't that just common sense...
Dehya:
Forget it, let me see what else is here...
Dehya:
A razor, some buttons, some round iron tiles, a wooden toy puppet...
Dehya:
A wool scarf, which from the looks of it probably belonged to a woman, and a hair clip... why are these things here?
Dunyarzad:
I—I'm suddenly feeling a little scared...
Dehya:
I'm sorry, my lady, but this is just the kind of man he was. He probably saw this box as some kind of personal trash heap, and dumped any and everything in here...
Dehya:
One, no, two empty liquor bottles... Ugh, tell me you guys, are these the kinds of things that a normal person would leave behind?
Paimon:
Huh? There's something in the bottle!
Dehya:
Oh, you're right...
Dehya:
...Alright, I got it out. It seems to be a piece of paper with some writing on it. The bottom part's all damaged from moisture, though... let's hope the writing didn't smudge.
Dehya:
"I was suddenly seized with an urge to write a letter after finishing this bottle. I just folded it up and left it in the bottle, though. If I end up forgetting about it, it won't really matter."
Dehya:
"To Dehya..." It's a letter for me?
Traveler:
You don't need to read it out loud.
Dehya:
It's alright, I'll just read it out. If he went to the trouble of writing a letter, there must have been some important things that he wanted to say... or at least, record down.
Kusayla's Letter:
"My condition's becoming worse and worse. Can't even walk without a cane anymore, much less go out and have fun. Guess I don't have many days left."
Kusayla's Letter:
"If you're reading this letter, then I suppose I'm already long gone."
Kusayla's Letter:
"You were adorable as a baby. Everyone loved you, and regardless of whether you were crying or laughing, everyone enjoyed having you in the group."
Kusayla's Letter:
"But once you grew a bit older, you were no longer nearly as happy or cute. It's probably the guys' fault..."
Dehya:
Hah, can you believe this guy? He can point the finger at himself.
Kusayla's Letter:
"Anyway, back to the point... To summarize, I'm writing this so you would know not to feel sad for me even if you end up finding out the truth."
Kusayla's Letter:
"The reason being that... Heh, I was never your father to begin with."
Paimon:
Wait, what!?
Dunyarzad:
Surely... he must be joking, right?
Dehya:
I... I don't know...
Kusayla's Letter:
"Hah, I was quite formidable when I was young! And a hundred times cooler than some so-called 'Flame-Mane,' hahaha."
Kusayla's Letter:
"It really felt like the whole world was under my feet. With just a teeny tiny bit of effort, I felt I could rule over the entire desert."
Kusayla's Letter:
"But as fate would have it, I went out into the desert for a drink one day, and discovered a baby in the sands. It was you."
Kusayla's Letter:
"You were just lying there, small and helpless. You were so tiny that if the wind blew for just a little while longer, you would have been buried forever."
Kusayla's Letter:
"But your cries were so loud, they made my head hurt. Now that I think of it, you really were a bundle of energy."
Paimon:
Uh... sounds like he's serious.
Kusayla's Letter:
"I told Idrisi and the others that I had slipped up with a woman while out and about. None of them even doubted me."
Kusayla's Letter:
"I'm sorry that I had to lie to them for so long, but I really had no other choice."
Kusayla's Letter:
"I was their most esteemed leader, after all. It's not like I could just tell them that I suddenly wanted to play at being a father..."
Kusayla's Letter:
"Haha, at this rate, I'll puke up all the liquor I just drank from this bottle."
Dehya:
...
Kusayla's Letter:
"Anyway, Dehya..."
Kusayla's Letter:
"You possess the kind of freedom and kindness that we could only dream of. As for how you should live your life... that'll be up to you to decide."
Dehya:
That's... the end of the letter.
Dehya:
...In the end, he was still thinking of me as a little child.
Traveler:
But isn't that also a good thing?
Dehya:
I suppose, or I would have suffocated under the sand a long time ago.
Dunyarzad:
He was a good father to you. The fact that he wasn't a blood relative doesn't change that.
Dehya:
Yeah. It's just a pity that we had to learn the truth of everything like this.
Dunyarzad:
Do you already have some ideas about the decision that he wanted you to make?
Dehya:
I do. If he first found me alone in the sands, then I want to try my hand at finding the person who abandoned me.
Dehya:
I just have one wish, to tell them a story...
Dehya:
...That there once existed a childish and foolish jerk with a heart of gold.
Dehya:
And that only under his care was I able to grow and mature into the person I am today.
Paimon:
If you end up finding any leads, can you share them with us? We go on adventures all the time. Maybe we'll be able to find some information for you.
Dehya:
Sure, I appreciate it. I wasn't expecting you to be so enthusiastic.
Dunyarzad:
I'll help too!
Dehya:
...Thank you, all of you. Thank you so much.
Dehya:
My life has certainly had its twists and turns, but I've always considered myself lucky.
Dehya:
Because no matter where I've gone, I've always been surrounded by incredible kindness.