AUTHORS NOTE: Before we start, I wish to mention that this is the first time I do a crossover... like ever. This was a random idea that I had one night and I thought that it could be developed to be fun. Keep in mind that I am no veteran expert on either franchises and that all knowledge I hold is biased with my own interpretations and mindset on how I perceived both of them. I would also like to asl for any feedback, as it will be welcomed in order to improve moving forward.
Thank you for reading.
-Rys_and_Clash
We were having dinner when it happened.
Mother was serving the plates when the letter arrived.
Komaru grabbed it and screamed "We got a letter from grandpa!"
It had been a surprise, because our family and my grandfather were no longer on speaking terms.
Due to mom's lack of education and Komaru still being young. I opened the letter and read it out loud.
"Ruin has come to our family. You remember our venerable house, opulent and imperial. Gazing proudly from its stoic perch above the moor. I lived all my years in that ancient, rumor-shadowed manor. Fattened by decadence and luxury. And yet, I began to tire of conventional extravagance. Singular, unsettling tales suggested the mansion itself was a gateway to some fabulous and unnamable power. With relic and ritual, I bent every effort towards the excavation and recovery of those long-buried secrets, exhausting what remained of our family fortune on swarthy workmen and sturdy shovels. At last, in the salt-soaked crags beneath the lowest foundations we unearthed that damnable portal of antediluvian evil. Our every step unsettled the ancient earth but we were in a realm of death and madness! In the end, I alone fled laughing and wailing through those blackened arcades of antiquity. Until consciousness failed me. You remember our venerable house, opulent and imperial. It is a festering abomination! I beg you, my son, return home, claim your birthright, and deliver our family from the ravenous clutching shadows of the Darkest Dungeon."
My grandfather, Reiji Naegi, had always been a bit… extravagant to say the least.
This letter, this message.
It was sent to my father.
However, one part of the letter stuck out to me the most.
"return home, claim your birthright."
I had a long talk with mother about it.
And that's precisely what drove me here.
Agh, right!
I'm sorry, allow me to properly introduce myself.
My name is Makoto Naegi, and I'm nothing more than your average teen. Average in and out. I really don't have anything going for me when it comes to… well… anything, really.
But yes, that letter was sent to us by grandfather.
It was sent to our father, in truth,
However, the family's been struggling and I took it upon myself to come here myself.
"So, yeah… that's basically my story…"
"You have my respect, Naegi sir. Volunteering to go on your own is nothing short of commendable" A guy with a knight's armor that sat in front of me said. "How old were you again?"
"I'll… turn sixteen in three months from now…"
"Impressive…" The armored man muttered.
"Bloody hell…" I turned to the other man sitting inside the carriage. "Yeh know I was kiddin' when I said we'd babysit ya, but, damn."
He was wearing a dark trench coat, gloves and a bandana he'd use to cover his face with. Currently he held it down on his neck.
"Y-Yeah… I apologize about that. I know it's my father the one that should be doing this, but-"
"Say no more." The knight raised his hand. "You hired us for this precisely. You shall not worry."
"Ye, as long as I get me part, You mustn't worry 'bout that."
I chuckled nervously a little with that. We weren't poor but neither were we rich.
After all these years, I'm coming back here.
How much has it been? Ten years at least?
So much has happened and in the end we are coming, or rather intend with what little we have.
We were spending practically everything we had for this.
I shouldn't have to worry about mom and Komaru at the very least, they have enough to survive with.
"Well, how about you guys? What did You do before this?"
The armored man smiled at me before he spoke. "I'm yet to properly introduce myself. My name is Reynauld Châtillon. And as you already know, sir Naegi, I'm a crusader of the St. George church."
The coated man chuckled. "Never woulda guessed."
"I'm thankful for everything you've done for my family, sir Châtillon."
"Please, sir Naegi, how many times will I have to repeat myself? Just call me Reynauld."
I chuckled a little and scratched the back of my head. "Y-Yeah… you've already told me…"
''So I reckon' the two of ye already know each other."
"Indeed. Do I presume you know sir Naegi as well?"
"That's a funny story actually." I answered Raynauld's question.
"We met through his little sister."
"Miss Komaru?"
"Yah, the little bugger found me In the forest while hunting for some food to eat. "
"He was clutching onto a rabbit when she found him."
"Was goin' to make a good stew with it. And then she appeared outta nowhere lookin' me with them puppy eyes."
"I thank you for not killing it in front of…her… I wouldn't know what to do had she gotten traumatized by that."
"Kid, You shouldn' be thanking me for sumthin' like that. Any other person would have seen me like a nuisance."
"I mean, hunting without license is frowned upon, but I have no authority to force upon you sir."
"I'm just happy you folks didn' call the police on me. But yer mum did give me an earful for a lifetime."
"Miss Haru?"
"Yah! She does look nice and kind on the outside, but she's a feisty one. I'll tell you that."
"Uhhh."
"Quite bold to speak of someone's mother in front of them."
"I mean it in a gud way. These days there are less people you can trust on, and even less that are competent at that."
"Speaking of trust...I didn't quite get your name, sir."
The Coated man eyed Reynauld for a bit.
"..."
"..."
His eyes fell on me for a moment before turning back to him.
"Dismas Mordereme."
"Reynauld Châtillon"
"So i've heard."
I'm glad the two of them are rather pleasant towards each other.
But the trip here… back to Grandpa's Manor… it wasn't just for memory lair.
Nor to make new friends or greet old ones.
We needed a place to live. And ever since father and grandpa fought, we have struggled to get by.
We got to be stable enough at one point, but we just couldn't have that for long, could we?
It getting ripped from us…
Father-
A loud sound erupted into my drum ears. Not soon after, the horses that were pulling the carriage halted their advance and started neighing in agony.
I got a little dazed by the sudden motion of this.
"Down!" Reynauld quickly jumped on me and lowered my head. Next thing I notice is the glass window that was next to me shattering into millions of pieces. However its sound breaking was muffled by a gunshot.
"Bloody hell!" Dismas managed to duck in time as well.
"W-What's going on?" I stuttered with fear.
"I ain't gonna die like this!" We heard a scream on the outside. I recognised it as the voice of the driver that was riding our stallion. A leap and hastened footsteps could be heard, only for them to stop altogether after another gunshot.
"Brigands." Reynauld answered my question.
"It never can be easy, can it?" Dismas shook his head. "Time to earn the bread." He then gave a look towards Reynauld. Before I could notice, he had his helm now equipped, which he used to nod in response.
"Sir Naegi, listen to me."
My mind was racing at this moment, I expected to meet fearsome encounters, but we hadn't Even gotten to the hamlet.
What could I do?
"Naegi sir!" Reynauld shook me out of My thoughts. "We can't have you panic now. We need you to focus here."
"Ya, if yer dead I won't receive my share."
"Besides that, we need you to stay behind us. We'll protect you."
As I slowly processed Reynauld's words I nodded in response. Reynauld then turned to Dismas.
"Are you ready?"
"I was born ready, lad."
Taking that as cue, Reynauld kicked open the door of the carriage and both him and Dismas lunged out of it. I stayed hidden inside the carriage, peeking whenever I could.
Reynauld and Dismas faced off against two hooded men. One of them held a… a blunderbuss! while the other had two sets of daggers unsheathed.
"You lot picked the wrong day to picnic." The man with the daggers said while the man with the blunderbuss took aim.
"And ye' lot picked the wrong day to be born." Dismas spat back.
Dismas made a quickshot at the man with the blunderbuss, hitting him in the arm, making him wince down from his aim.
Reynauld then charged towards the brigand with the daggers and fought him one-on-one. The brigand did his best to stab Reynauld, but he parried all of his attacks with the blade of his sword.
Reynauld then managed to strike the brigand with the hilt of his sword, stunning him slightly.
In the meantime, Dismas lunged at the blunderbuss owner and stabbed him relentlessly.
Reynauld struck down the daggers user and went towards Dismas to support him.
The man with the blunderbuss, bleeding out, managed to fire a round of his gun, to which Reynauld managed to tank a hit for Dismas, his armor protecting him from getting any damage.
Dismas took this chance and jumped at the gun, twisting it, and stabbing the brigand right in the throat. The brigand clutched his neck in agony as he fell on the ground and quickly bled out.
I walked out of the carriage in order to catch up with the two.
"A-Are you guys-?"
Until I felt the cold sensation of the blade be pressed against my throat.
It was late when I realized that the other brigand hadn't died. And now he took me hostage to get Reynauld and Dismas' attention.
"Now you'll listen! Unless-"
BANG!
I felt how the wind broke due to a bullet that went past my side. I felt how the bullet grazed me.
THUD
The body of the brigand that held me hostage laid lifeless in the ground, a clean shot right in between his eyelids.
The lack of life in those murky eyes of him… I could not break apart from that view. It wasn't like anything I had seen before.
I felt… horrible. I couldn't help but think of what was this man's story, why was he here? his last thoughts before dying. I felt responsible for causing this man's life to end, even if I didn't pull the trigger.
And there was just something in those eyes that just… entrapped me there. Forcing me to watch how death took this man away.
"...Sir Naegi."
I snapped back to reality, turning towards the voice. "Y-Yeah?"
It was Reynauld. "Are you alright?" he sounded concerned.
"Y… Yeah… just… a little shaken. I'm sorry."
"I've seen those eyes before."
"Are they… always like that? When they die?" I asked, my voice was as low as a murmur.
"Yes. But I wasn't talking about those."
"Huh?"
"I meant yours. Doubt, guilt, regret. This is the first time you've seen somebody's life end, is it?"
I looked to the ground at that. I wasn't sure how to answer.
"I-I know that I have to be ready for this sorts of things, but-"
"You shouldn't." Reynauld interrupted me.
I gave him a quizzed look as he answered. "You are a mere teenager. No kid should be exposed to these kinds of environments. I for one was much like you until not long ago."
"Really?"
"When I joined the crusade. Before that, I was but a regular farmer. Everything you are feeling, I've felt it before. And while it's up to you to decide how you take it from here, what I can say is that you yourself are not responsible for everyone's well being. This man held a blade to your throat and for as long as we know, intended to hurt you. If I were you, I wouldn't pity him. Not because he was a brigand, but because he meant to harm you."
"Maybe… but… I don't wish such fate for every person that… may 'harm' me. It's just I can't let people die and not care."
"So you'll take the hard path…" the knight murmured to himself.
"The what?"
"Nothing you should be worried about, sir. You don't believe it yourself, but you are a strong kid. Don't doubt that."
"If ye lot are done dillidallyin perhaps we can get moving." Dismas spoke aloud as he finished pickpocketing the corpse of the man with the blunderbuss.
"What about the luggage?"
"It'll slow us down. We'd do best to move forward. Mayhaps we can get it back when we get to the hamlet."
"Is there anything crucial you may need to get?" Reynauld asked.
"N-No… and I have enough money to pay your part on me."
"Then I'll promise ye you'll be spending good money." Dismas said as he entered the bushes from the sides of the road.
"Wouldn't it be better to follow the road?" Reynauld asked the highwayman.
"Brigands 'round here must have scouted this whole place. We'd be exposed if ambushed. We can perhaps avoid them walking through here."
While uncertain, Makoto followed suit behind the duo, walking through green and brown, albeit they were grim. These lands had seen better days.
—
Walking through the forest proved to be harder than expected. The only way to know where the hamlet is was to follow the Old Road, a task proven to be rather hard when you have to walk with your eyes on the back to avoid any ill willed foes.
Dismas proved to excel in this environment though, managing to singlehandedly manage the group to avoid any encounters with the brigands.
"Remind me to take you out hunting, sir Mordereme" Reynauld spoke, breaking the silence.
Dismas chuckled a little. "Me services ain't cheap, Naegi here can testify."
"Ahaha…" I awkwardly laughed at that.
We kept on moving forward until we spotted some gates that I found familiar.
"Now where the hell does this lead to?" Dismas, who led the group at that moment, asked out loud.
Reynauld was about to say something, but I hadn't realized and spoke before him. "It leads to a crosspath of the Old Road…From there we can reach the hamlet."
"Ye know this part kid?"
"Yeah, I used to travel a lot with my father. We always had to leave the manor at times."
"Ain't that charming…" Dismas opened the gates and we followed after him.
We were greeted with a beautiful view.
The Old Road, the state, Grandpa's manor. Everything could be seen from here.
"Wow…" Reynauld muttered under his helm.
"Gud find, kid. Now we've got to-"
BANG!
"Argh!" Out of nowhere, a gunshot was heard and I saw Dismas clutching his left arm. He had been shot. We turned around to find that another group of brigands found us.
"Next one will land on yer head, mate." A brigand with a musket taunted Dismas.
"Not before I shove my boot up your arse!" The highwayman spat back, clutching his arm even tighter while at that.
"Quite the mouth for an armless fellow. Allow me to turn that statement literally." another brigand with a single dagger spoke.
"Not if I don't allow it." Reynauld raised his blade and stood in front of Dismas and me.
"Cute sword… I'll use it to clean my teeth with it." A third brigand spoke, the largest of them all. He was overweight and had a whip as a weapon. I decided to not question this man's logic on healthcare.
"What do we do?" I asked both men on my side.
"Sir Naegi. you stay back and let us both do all the work."
"A-Are you sure?"
"Tis' but a scratch, kld, give me a moment to show this bloke how a real man shoots a gun."
"You got that moment." Reynauld said as he stepped forward.
"Heh. Are you approaching me?" The large brigand said.
"The three of you!" Reynauld pointed his sword towards them.
"What's he doing?" The brigand with the musket asked.
"Shut up and reload that thing already."
Reynauld then planted his sword on the ground and pulled something out. A paper.
"In the name of George of Lydda, I accuse the three of you of treason!"
"What?" The three brigands were thunderstruck by Reynauld's ridiculous act.
"Why the hell do we care?!" The brigand with the dagger exclaimed.
"By St. George's degree and my position as a crusader of his church, I command thee to surrender. Otherwise I will pursue the charges of treason, theft, attempted murder, blasphemy and sacrilegious attempt of murdering one of the lord's messengers."
The one with the musket couldn't help but ask. "Is this some kind of a jo-"
Next second, the musket wielder gets his face shot, a bullet landing in the middle of his eyebrows. The brigands break their formation in surprise.
"Took you long enough." Reynauld commented to his partner.
"Ye've an idea how hard it is to reload a gun one-handed?"
"It was a ploy! You motherfucker!" The dagger thief charged towards the unarmed Reynauld.
"Sir Reynauld!" I exclaimed in worry.
Reynauld turned to his attacker and side-stepped him, avoiding a slash from his dagger. Unimpressed, Reynauld brutally punches the brigand to the ground.
The bandit coughs on the ground. "You won't get away with ARGH!-"
Reynauld had kicked and stepped his foot on the brigand's back.
The crusader pulled the sword from the dirt. "Tell god I send my regards." Reynauld then thrusted his sword through the man's back, dying instantly after a blood-filled scream.
With two of the brigands dead, only the large man with the whip was left alive.
Reynauld pulled his sword from the now deceased brigand, while the highwayman behind me raised his gun, ready to shoot again.
"In the name of the lord, I will ask you to no longer exist."
"I will kill you for that!" The brigand brought his large whip at both men, to which Reynauld flawlessly tanked while Dismas dodged out of danger.
Stab after stab, shot after shot, and smite after smite, the bigger brigand held no chance against the powerful duo.
Realizing the end of his life was near, the brigand began to scream.
"I WILL NOT DIE HERE! I WILL NOT DIE HERE BY THESE PUNY MEN."
Any rhyme or reason had been lost to the man, if he ever had any to begin with.
"I apologize for forcing you to watch this, Sir Naegi. When one's life is in danger, their flight or fight sensors kick in. Some strive and some… fail, as you can see"
"Mothercrooker lost his mind" Dismas commented offhandedly.
"DIE!" The brigand made a last attack, which seemed directed at me.
I couldn't help but close my eyes and grace myself for impact. But it never came.
When I opened my eyes I saw Reynauld thrusting his sword at the brigand's belly. Stabbing him cleanly with no obstructions. This man would soon die.
The larger foe fell. He hadn't died yet, but he was too weak to do anything. I couldn't help but pity him.
"Do we have to kill him?"
"This man made an attempt on your life, Sir Naegi. He deserves no compassion whatsoever."
"B-But-"
SLASH!
Before I could even speak, Dismas had slashed the brigand's neck, killing him instantly. He then proceeded to pickpocket his corpse.
I couldn't help but get saddened by that. I didn't like senseless murder.
But I guess there wasn't much I could do about it…
I sighed. "Let's head to the hamlet then…"
—
We followed on. It had been difficult after the carriage broke down. But we finally got to the hamlet.
The townsfolk seemed confused and surprised at first with our arrival, however I quickly introduced myself to everyone as Makoto Naegi, Reiji's grandson.
…That didn't seem to ease anyone up. I explained that we had been struck down by brigands and asked for some help about our carriage and my companions' wounds. Luckily some good willed people reached out and helped Reynauld head towards the carriage to try to fix it, bring it or at least carry the luggage that the three of us had brought.
Other men escorted Dismas towards the sanitarium they had, which Dismas seemed uncharacteristically spooked by.
And I… was left alone… in the middle of the hamlet. without knowing exactly what to do.
I decided that it would be best for everyone to go introduce myself to the townsfolk, to make sure to everyone that I didn't mean any threat to them.
I decided to head first towards what was, what I presumed, the tavern of the town. Normally I wouldn't even dare to enter a place like this due to my age, however, I think these circumstances are more than understandable for me to, at least, cordially greet the owners.
As I walked in, the door creaked loud enough to announce my arrival.
The first thing that I noticed was that, for a tavern, not many people were there. Either I came on a day where most people don't visit it at this time, the tavern was closed, or something happened with the people living here…
The tavern keeper, a grown man wearing simple clothes, was cleaning some wooden mugs.
"We'll soon be closing. I won't be taking any new orders." He said as he glanced at me over his shoulder while I walked closer.
"That's alright sir. I came here because I had just arrived and I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Makoto Naegi."
That seemed to catch his interest as he turned around. "Makoto Naegi? No way…"
"I-Is something the matter, sir?"
"Damn, it is you. You don't remember me, kid?"
"I-I'm sorry sir… it has been a while… If I'm not mistaken you must be mister Smirnoff, correct?"
"You DO remember me!" The tavern keeper laughed. "Hey Quill! Come here for a sec!"
I wanted to say something, however I wouldn't be able to say anything as a woman walked in behind the tavern keeper.
"You needed me for something dad?"
"Take a look." Smirnoff pointed his hand at me. "Who do you think this is?"
I don't know who this woman is, and I don't think she knows who I'm supposed to be either…
She eyed me and glanced back at her father. "Am I supposed to know who this is?"
"Yes. You are. When did you become such an airhead?"
"S-Smirnoff, sir, there's no need for you to say-"
"Hold on…. that voice…"
"Y-Yes?"
"Finally knocked some sense into that thick head of yours?" Smirnoff asked his daughter.
"Could it be… Naegi?"
"That is my name, yes."
"Oh my lord! Dad! You should have just told me right away, I'm not presentable!"
"He's the one that walked in when our shift's over."
"I-I'm sorry sir… uh… have we met before?" I referred to me and 'Quill'
"Makoto sir, this is my daughter, Quilmes. Your father used to talk lots about you here."
"...He did?"
"Used to come here every once in a while. De-stress from his talks with Lord Reiji."
Quilmes looked uncomfortable, she had a more comfortable pair of clothes, being off-shift now. "I-I'll take my leave then…" She started to walk away.
"Thank you for everything Quilmes."
"J-just call me Quill now!"
When Quill fully left, I couldn't help but scratch the back of my neck.
"What brings you here Makoto? Or should I say Naegi?"
"W-Well, I received a letter from my grandfather. His message was rather… encrypted. You know how he was. I came here to talk to him about… everything that was in the letter."
'And hopefully to get a place for mom and Komaru to live.'
Smirnoff winced at that, he seemed troubled.
"Is there a problem, sir?"
"I don't know how to tell you this kid, but… Reiji's dead."
It took me a moment to process that. "I-I beg your pardon?"
"Reiji Naegi. We found him dead in his manor. He took his own life a couple of weeks ago."
"O-oh…"
"I'm sorry for your loss."
"D-Don't be… I was… not aware…"
"Ever since we've been… stray to say the least. We are so few that we don't need to worry about breaking the law since everyone knows each other but… the lands have been getting grimier."
"I see…"
"It's truly a godsend that you came here, Lord Naegi. Although should I ask why didn't your father come in your stead?"
I stammered to come up with an answer. "Father's… unwell."
"So he sent the next heir in line… I hope he gets back on his feet."
"So do I…"
'So do I…'
"Welp. There's not much I can do for you right now. Would you like a drink?"
"I… appreciate the gesture, Smirnoff sir, but I'm afraid I'm not allowed to drink just yet."
"Not allowed? What do you mean? You became religious? swore an oath?"
I scratched the back of my neck. "No, nothing that complicated sir, you see…"
"How old were you again kid? I remember you were around Quill's age, right?"
"Quill must be… sixteen right?"
"That is correct."
"Quimes is older than me then… I'm still fifteen."
"Unbelievable… your father sent you to these lands and you are not even of legal age?"
"I… wouldn't say that exactly… I'll become sixteen in three months from now…"
"The Naegi name sure must be struggling…"
"Don't we all these days?"
"Fair…"
"I thank you for your welcoming gesture, Smirnoff sir. I wish to speak to the other residents to introduce myself properly."
"Good luck then, Lord Naegi."
"Please… Call me Makoto."
—
After my visit to the tavern I headed to the town's sanatorium. I was worried about Dismas' condition.
As I entered. An old lady greeted my entrance.
"Hello young man. How can I help You?"
"Hello, i'm new in the hamlet. I'm Makoto Naegi."
The old Lady brought a hand to her mouth. "Oh My…. Young Naegi? You've grown so much!"
I started scratching the back of My head already. "Have we met before?"
'Yes. But You won't remember...You we're but a baby. I was present the day you were born'"
"Y-You were?"
"We had more people working here back then. Miss Haru's surgery had been of utmost priority."
"I see…"
''I still remember the tears she shed when you were born. She was so certain on how to name You. you'd think you were destined for greatness…"
"I… don't know about that miss…"
"Gertrude. Terbina Gertrude."
That name does ring some bells!
"Miss Gertru-'
"GET THAT BLOODY THING AWAY FROM ME!"
A loud scream interrupted me.
"Oh boy…" Miss Gertrude sighed as she walked towards it.
"Please give me a minute."
"A-Actually, I think it's him the reason I came here…"
"Oh? Please come with me then, sweetie."
I did as I was told and followed suit.
As we crossed the room and went through a door, I walked into a rather… curious scene.
In the middle of the room, a bare chested Dismas stood up. His left arm now bandaged and bloodied a little. The bandana he covered his mouth with was nowhere to be seen.
"I SAID I'M FINE, IT MEANS I'M FINE." Dismas stated.
This alone was fine.
The thing was this wasn't the whole scene.
A woman wearing the same nurse uniform Gertrude was, only that this one was significantly younger, held a needle on one of her hands. She had her back turned and also wore the nurses' headpiece, completely covering her hair.
It was a big needle mind you.
"Sir! We need to apply morphine in order to clean the wound and avoid it getting infected!"
Holding onto his unbandaged and unharmed arm, another grown man, darker skin and coffee hair, older than Dismas seem, tried to hold the patient down.
"If Ms. Terbina says you need medication, you'll take medication! It's for your best.'"
"'I don't wanna! I know what's for me best! Leave me alone you wretched bastards!"
Gertrude coughed to her hand. "Quite heated, are we?"
The three of them looked towards our way.
Dismas spoke first. "Naegi! Tell these folk that I need NO needles!"
The young woman seemed starstruck "N-Naegi?'
"As in The Naegis?'
"Umm… Nice to meet you all! My name is Makoto Naegi! Grandson of Reiji Naegi! We've just arrived at the hamlet. I'll be in your care from now on!"
The man and woman had stopped struggling with Dismas, who used this chance to escape.
The coffee haired man chuckled. "Three generations. And not one of them are remotely close to one another."
"I beg your pardon?"
Said man shook his head. "Didn't mean anything bad by it. I'm just impressed with how different you act compared to your father, and certainly to your grandfather."
The old lady sent a glare to him, while the younger nurse spoke once more. "We are honored to have you back, Lord Naegi."
"Please… just call me Makoto… And I'm sorry, but I have no memory of meeting the two of you before."
"That's because you haven't, young man." the man answered. "I moved in relatively recently to this place."
"When did you arrive?"
"Around six years ago."
'That's… recently to you?'
'But he does have a point though'
"You moved in around the time after we left."
"Precisely."
I nodded in acknowledgement, I turned to the younger nurse next. "Did you move in… er… relatively recently as well miss?"
"No, no. I've lived here my whole life. I just didn't work here back then."
"I see… um… If I may ask… could you tell me your names? I uh… it's a bit awkward not knowing your names as we speak…"
"My deepest apologies, Lord Naegi. I'm Mikaela Terbina. I work here as a nurse."
'Terbina… just like-'
"And my name is Pasco Sanford. I work here as a psychologist."
I couldn't help but repeat after him.
"Psychologist?"
"I am aware that most people don't know about it, but psycology-"
"I do know about psychology, Mr. Sanford. I'm just… surprised since it's an under-researched science."
'If you can even call it a science….'
smiled. "It's rather a recently discussed matter, but, we are not aware of the limits the human mind has… yet. That's what psychology is for my lord.
I'm… not fully comfortable with this talk. "Just call me Makoto, please." I said.
"What brings you here, Lord-... Makoto sir." Mikaela spoke up this time.
"To your sanitarium… I wanted to check on Dismas, who… already left…" I awkwardly chuckled as the nurse and… Psychiatrist fumbled around as they realized their patient had escaped.
"As for the hamlet… I received a note coming from our grandfather…"
The three of them looked at each other.
"I've already been told." I bluntly said.
"I'm sorry for your loss"
"I-I'm sorry!"
"..."
"It's… alright. I was expecting to have a word with grandfather but… Guess we won't." I gave a halfhearted laugh as I lowered my gaze.
"...You could still do so…"
I looked up to Sanford when I heard him speak.
"Huh?"
"One final talk. You can still have that."
I couldn't help but ask. "What do you mean?"
—
I didn't understand it at first, but it's quite obvious now when you think about it.
This hamlet doesn't have a lot of stuff around.
It has a tavern, where people get together and drink, some even live there.
It has a sanitarium where people get proper health care and are treated when sick or injured.
…And it also has a graveyard… to mourn those that were lost.
It's rather small… and while it's called a graveyard, there aren't many 'graves' to begin with.
Mostly because there's just not enough space for many of them.
But there were multiple wooden planks where names and dates are written onto them.
Some planks are really old, while there are other ones that seem to be placed rather more… recent.
But what stands out the most is the single grave in the middle of everything. A perfectly rectangular shaped Wooden plank with a name carved on it.
REIJI NAEGI
Despite being the biggest grave there, and probably the only grave around, not a single flower, offering or even note was left for him.
Not even the date of his death was carved.
Despite being the town's lord, the ruler of these lands and from everything I've seen and heard, Reiji lived and died the same way until the bitter end.
Alone.
I feel how my chest twists at this.
In the last years of his life, Reiji seemingly isolated himself from everyone.
Even from us… his own family.
And all of that… ended up on this. His tomb, completely empty of any send-offs.
I felt like crying. Even though I only knew him when I was little, I couldn't help but to feel regret.
'Maybe I could have done something' I ask myself, but I was just a kid, I couldn't possibly know what would happen. I couldn't possibly know what was probably going on then.
I still don't do to this day.
Why did Dad and Reiji fight each other?
Why did we leave the hamlet?
And where in the world is Father?
I had so many questions, and I couldn't help but believe that they would be left unanswered.
I pulled out the letter we received from Grandfather.
"Hey… Grandpa… I… hope I can call you that." I awkwardly chuckled. "I'm sorry to say that father didn't receive your letter… I… we don't know-"
I shut myself right there, deciding to change the topic. "But I came here instead. I'm sorry that it's probably not what you were expecting… But I promise you that I'll figure out why you called on us. Just like you wanted Dad to do…"
'That and…' I turned myself towards the exit gates of the graveyard, where I could see the rest of the hamlet. 'I promise to be a good lord for them… I hope you like that.'
I kneeled to leave the note in front of his tomb, wrapped inside the very same envelope that Grandfather sent it with.
"I promise…"
…
…
…
—
It wasn't my intention to intrude any longer on the graveyard.
But there simply was something that… held me there…
I couldn't qutie explain it but,.. it was almost… hypnotic.
as if I had entered a trance of some sorts…
One where I could hear… my grandfather's voice…
"unsettling tales suggested the mansion."
"Fattened by decadence and luxury."
"Our every step unsettled the ancient earth."
"I bent every effort."
"Naegi."
"In the end, I alone fled laughing."
"a realm of death and madness."
"You remember our venerable house."
"Sir Naegi."
"Ruin has come to our family."
"Ruin has come to our family."
"Ruin has come to our familyRuin has come to our familyRuin has come to our familyRuin has come to our familyRuin has come to our familyRuin has come to our familyRuin has come to our familyRuin has come to our familyRuin has come to our family."
"Sir Naegi!"
I finally broke concentration from my thoughts. I blinked a couple of times to get a hold of myself.
The voice that was calling me came from Sir Reynauld. He had returned from gathering our belongings it seems.
"S-sorry Reynauld sir, I… don't know what came over me."
"Ya lost it for a moment right ther'"
I caught attention of Reynauld's companion right there.
I frowned a little. "Dismas…"
"Why the angry face, eh?"
I looked once more at his arm. Still bandagaed… still bloodied.
"You need to treat that arm."
"'Lax kid, I'm fine. I just gotta lick me wounds and I'll be top notch."
Reynauld eyed Dismas' arm as well… but decided to not say anything.
I noticed this and tried to play my cards accordingly. "Sir Reynauld, could you please help me? You can't tell me that his arm is 'just fine'..."
Dismas quickly interjected. "Reynauld, mate, convince our patron here that there is nothing he should be worried bout. You know how these things 're. c'mon."
"I am not… taking part of this discussion."
"Sir Reynauld!"
"No one likes centrists pal."
"Listen Sir Naegi."
"Just call me Makoto please."
"Sir Makoto. It is not of our business to decide for Dismas what to do with his arm."
Dismas silently nodded in agreement with Reynauld.
"If he wishes to spend money to cure it, or decides to chop it off is up to him."
"Yeh' that's righ- excuse you?"
"Ah… Speaking of money…" I searched for the inner pockets of the hoodie I was wearing.
I pulled out a small bag, which I pulled out the contents of it.
Several golden coins.
"five hundred each for both of you to bring me here, right?"
"...Yes, sir." Reynauld uncharacteristically went silent.
In my bag, I only had twenty golden coins left… Each coin is worth a hundred.
I grabbed five coins and handed them to Reynauld, who was the nearest to me.
"I thank you kindly, Sir Makoto."
"Please… I'm only keeping my word."
"Aight, aight… we get it, your nice and all…" Dismas spoke up. "Now please, if you kindly would…"
I pulled out Dismas' part as well…
However, I handed him six coins instead.
This left Dismas uncharacteristically starstruck. "Uhm… Naegi. This isn't what we accorded… You're to give me five coins, not six?"
"Dismas-"
"I mean, I'll kindly take the free money, just wanting to make sure you know I ain't "
"I am aware, Dismas, but… I'm really worried. I want you to check your arm properly."
Dismas' gaze softened at that, but I continued. "I don't mind paying for your treatment… but… I just can't see you get any more hurt by recklessness."
After staying silent a couple moments, Dismas closed his fist and nodded… but he still didn't say a word.
He seemed… conflicted.
And now… the part I was fearing the most reached…
"There's… something I want to ask the both of you…"
I had their attention, so I spoke. "I want to continue to employ the both of you."
They looked at each other, then back at me, waiting for my explanation I supposed.
"My original plan was to come here and speak with grandfather. Help him out wherever and however I could… but…" I turned towards his grave. No words were needed.
"Wut do ya want us to do exactly?" Dismas asked.
I took a breath as I faced them once more. "I want to run this place. I want to turn this town into a safe place for its people… and my family… The two of you already know that my main objective was to find somewhere safe for us to live. But with grandfather dead… This place needs someone to manage it, people to protect it. And…"
I looked at my grandfather's tomb as I said the next.
"To learn whatever happened… to him… to this place. To learn everything that's happened."
I turned to them. "And I need help. As much as I can get. The two of you showed me that you are capable, and this place truly needs people like you."
I could feel Dismas' grin from beneath his mask. "How much are we talking?"
I pulled out the rest of the contents from my bag. "I only have nine golden coins remaining."
Dismas was stunned at that. I couldn't tell if he was offended or surprised.
"Thing is… I don't have much money on me. I don't have much to pay you with right now."
"Then how'd ya-"
"But." I interrupted Dismas. "Grandfather was an antiques collector, someone who was fascinated by unorthodox arts… and my father once fought with him because of his greed…"
"So your grandfather's loaded." Dismas was following along me by now.
"Help me investigate what happened in these lands. Everything you may find, bring it back to me, and I will pay you accordingly."
"We're goin' to be adventurers… freakin' terrific…"
"And I will also promise accommodations within this town for you to live. I'll make sure of that."
"That's for certain… Don't wanna imagine havin' to travel each day to this place to come for work…"
"So what do you guys say?" I clutched my hands at that.
Reynauld, who had been silent for my whole speech walked closer to me.
He was intimidating, his gaze never left my eye…
He reached a hand out to me.
"You had me at employ, Sir Naegi."
I smiled at him. "Please… Just Makoto…"
"Well…" We turned to Dismas, who spoke his mind as well. "I wanted to play hard to get but… this goody two shoes' complicatin' me life here…"
"Y-You too will stay?"
"Yah, but I ain't workin' for free! I want those nine coins for our next work."
I stared at Reynauld for a moment… I wouldn't be able to pay him…
"Can I pay you five coins again?"
Dismas gave it a thought for a moment.
"Make it seven."
I hope I don't regret this… "Six?"
Dismas' crossed his arms…
He started wincing around in thought…
Did I just lose a possibl-
"Fine. But I want to sleep well tonight."
"Thank you Dismas sir!"
"Alright." Reynauld coughed to his fist. "So my guess is that we'll go exploring tomorrow."
I nodded in response. "Should we make a quick scan to see what we'll be dealing with."
"Yah, that's prolly a good idea."
I walked the two men out of the graveyard, and I felt a cold spine chill run through me. As I lead the two men to the outskirts of town, grandfather's manor and all the lands around it were in perfect exhibition for everyone to see…
We were not ready. We realized that much,
"I'll send the church a notice and a backup request… we'll need that vestal."
"I'll go get… Me arm checked…"
"And I'll find people to help us…"
The three of us parted ways. We had a job to do.
We gotta get to the Darkest Dungeon.
Eventually.