Nothing Else Matters

Raid Event: Scars of the Syndicate

Episode 4

Nothing Else Matters

Previous Quest

Aspidochelone Clash: Beginner

Next Quest

No More Nightmares

Summary

The party defeats Aspidochelone, but the Doctor escapes. As Aldred moves to pursue him, the prince looks to help a beleaguered village, causing them to butt heads. However, it turns out that the village's troubles were nothing but a clever trap orchestrated by the Doctor!

Dialogue

We've escaped the space between worlds. Serves that ugly Aspido-whatever right. I'm callin' this a happy ending all around! Idiot! There's nothing happy about it! Aldred! WHERE IS THE DOCTOR?! Guess he made like Ranzal's pants and split. ...Heh. I fear it is quite dangerous to leave that man to his own devices. And yet, we have no idea where he went. Without more information, we will be reduced to knocking on every random door we see and hoping for luck to carry us. H-help... Someone...  ?! *pant* *pant* H-help... Are you all right? What happened? W-we're from a nearby village that was suddenly beset by fiends. I thought we took out all them fiends! Could the black mana be responsible? It makes sense—black mana from the tear would likely make fiends run wild! Well, hell. I thought we had this thing all wrapped up with a big pretty bow, but I guess not. We need to help the villagers. ...... Aldred? Do what you want. Go where you want. I'm going after the Doctor. You're abandoning the villagers?! All that matters is seeing my revenge fulfilled. Beyond that, I care not who lives or dies. I understand your feelings on the Syndicate, but this has to take priority. You don't understand ANYTHING! No one came for ME when I was begging for help! My family was murdered in front of me, my sister was kidnapped, and I was turned into some kind of lab rat— AND NO ONE DID ANYTHING! Aldred, I'm— You have the luxury to save others because someone is always there to save YOU! I don't have that. Besides, there's no one left I want to save. All I have is my revenge. Aldred, wait! Listen to me! Leave it, boss. Ain't nothin' gonna change this guy's mind. Fine. But I need to say this... I'm sorry for saying I understood your feelings, because it's clear that I don't. But if you stay on your current path, all that awaits you is more pain. Just shut the hell up already. ...... Are you really okay with this, Aldred? ...... Aldred? Aldred! ...Come on, wake up! Oh, this is bad. He must have held his shapeshifted form for too long. Aldred, wake up! Please! Unnngh... Aldred! How...am I supposed to sleep... with you screaming in my ear...? Quiet, you! I was worried! You didn't need to be. Rrrr! Why do you have to be such a... such a big obstinate bonehead?! What? Those other people may not understand you, but I do! And what happens to me if you go and die on me, huh?! You're right. I'm sorry. But I have no... Dammit, of all the times! Those must be the fiends running amok because of the black mana! Why do they have to show up right when this stupid body of mine isn't working?! Uh, Aldred? There's more. A LOT more. Andromeda, listen to me. If it looks like the worst is going to happen, I want you to leave me and run. You got it? Run. No! I won't leave you to die! I won't die. If it comes to that, I'll give my body up to the dragon. But if I have to do that, I'll probably go berserk and attack everything—including you. And I...I don't want that to happen. So please, just do it. Promise to run. I... That's a worst-case scenario, and I'm going to give everything I have to avoid it. But— Aldred, wait. Look at the fiends. Huh? Why aren't they attacking us? Why are they just...leaving? They're headed toward the village that everyone else went to save! So that's the game! This wasn't about black mana at all. It's a trap set by the Doctor to lure in all those bleeding hearts! Aldred, are you actually going to go and save all those people? If this is the Doctor's doing, he's going to be there. That's all I care about. Your body can't handle a fight right now! Probably not. But if my time is ending, I'll use the last spark of it to scorch the life out of the Doctor! Aldred, you... Don't tell the others about my condition, all right? Promise me. Okay. If that's what you want. Euden! It's Andromeda! And...Aldred?! Look out! This is a trap! What do you mean?! Black mana has nothing to do with these fiends—they're under the control of the Doctor! I am very much beginning to dislike that man. What's the plan, Euden? Trap or not, the village is under attack. We can't just stand by. I think we all saw that one comin'. Right then, folks! Let's get to work! ...... Are you coming? I'm only in this for the Doctor. The rest is up to you. We'll take whatever help we can get for whatever reason we can get it. Thank you, Aldred.