Shironeko Project: Zero Chronicle (白猫プロジェクトZERO CHRONICLE)

In the beginning,

when our beautiful kingdom first came to float above the clouds,

a noble, white cat sat upon the throne.

One day, a black cat looked up from the mud of the surface,

saw her,

and fell in love.

The sky is in anguish.

I must guard the rune.

There you are.

How are you feelin'? You ready to head out?

I am.

Good. I'm hopin' you'll bring some beginner's luck with ya.

I'm famished.

So, let's go and bag ourselves some meat.

Hmph. They live carefree up there,

while we fight for our lives in the mud.

What I wouldn't give to switch places with 'em.

There's a pack of monsters heading this way!

-- What? -- Damn it.

They've finally come here, too.

You need to gather up the children and run for it.

There's a cave in the side of that hill.

You can hide there.

Okay. Understood.

Everyone else should pick up a weapon.

We don't have time to be afraid now.

Ready?

You take care of them.

We'll let you know when the town's safe again.

Who knows?

Maybe we can bring down a big one for you.

They're here!

Get ready.

We'll protect our village, no matter the cost.

Right!

Now!

Oh!

Are you hurt?

Just a little.

Can you move? We're close.

Let him go!

Keep going. The cave's up ahead!

'Kay.

Watch out!

Please go.

Take care of my sister for me.

Hello? Hello?

Is anyone still alive?

It can't be far now.

Here's hoping this place has a tavern.

Pardon, boy.

I was told that there was a village in this area.

It's gone now.

Monster attack?

If the village is gone, then what are you doing here?

Digging a hole.

A hole?

Is that wrong?

What's it for?

It's for the people who died.

So, what do you want?

Why haven't you gone for help?

The monsters got the neighboring villages, too.

Don't push yourself further.

Keep this up, and you'll die for nothing.

I don't plan to.

I get enough sleep.

What of food?

Take it.

Why give me this?

I don't have any motive. Let's just call it a whim.

So tell me. What name do you go by?

I'm Skeers.

Call me what you like.

Everyone else did.

Hm.

I don't understand.

Isn't the King of Darkness supposed to be

ruling and protecting these lands?

That's right.

Then why does he let these monsters run wild?

The king must be occupied with concerns of his own.

Oh, yeah?

I wonder if he's concerned with the right things.

What do you think the "right things" would be?

The happiness of the people he rules.

Heh. Superficial.

Yeah, well. I'm still digging.

How long do you intend to do this?

Till the hole's deep enough.

And how deep should it be, boy?

Enough to reach the sky.

Interesting. Please explain.

I don't expect you to get this, but, well--

What?

Light can reach the depths of the darkest pit.

And there, even a faint light can shine bright.

That thought makes the world feel kinder to me.

More balanced.

Well said.

Doesn't matter if you're from land or sky.

We all end up in a hole eventually.

We're the same...

...in the end.

Pick it up.

You'll need more than a shovel to change this world for good.

Huh?

What's wrong? Are you finished already?

I never asked you to do this.

Maybe not. But still.

If you didn't want this, then why pick up the sword?

I know what you're after.

You want me to get strong enough to fight the monsters.

But I've got no chance.

I said nothing of the sort.

Die. Better than wasting your useless life

wallowing in despair and cursing the world.

Huh?

What are you playing at?

If you think I deserve to die, then why hold back?

Call it a whim.

This is life and death.

You can't make that choice on a whim!

Yet I do.

You don't have the right. No one does!

And what if I say you're wrong?

That right exists.

The power to kill or save at will belongs to someone

you could never even hope to meet.

That's the truth.

But what good will knowing it do you?

Is it enough to make you submit to his rule?

You mean the King of Darkness?

I do.

The people of Black are destined to obey the King of Darkness.

Yeah, but you're not the king of anything!

You're right.

I am no one's king.

I'm a fool who tried to become king, but wasn't chosen.

What's wrong?

Don't tell me you're so weak a person

that you can be killed at an old man's whim.

What are you trying to prove here?

Damn it.

Listen to me.

You've a strong ideal to push you forward.

But the people's happiness is no easy goal.

You'll need more than half-hearted resolve

to achieve it.

Don't you think I know that?

Then what'll you do?

Wait for help to fall from the sky

or dig another hole to nowhere?

It's time you came to your senses.

You've an ideal to fight for, and you are now honor-bound

to take that ideal and transform it into reality.

Fine. I'll do it!

I'll become the next king! I'll do whatever it takes!

What is it?

I'm glad, is all.

Glad? For what?

For you.

For the miracle I found in the end.

This isn't over yet, all right?

It is for me, actually. Won't be long now.

Are you hurt? What's wrong?

I fought the current King of Darkness

over the succession.

"What's wrong" is that I'm old.

My sword.

Take it with you and make for the capital.

I've a mansion there.

I hail from a noble family, and the bearer of that blade

is considered its head.

So, go. Bring the sword.

And declare yourself with pride.

Announce that you are a Prince of Darkness.

You'll encounter a knight known as Vallus.

He's a good, loyal man.

Let him see what you can do with a sword

and I'm sure he'll look after you.

Earn his recognition, and he'll serve you faithfully.

I never said I'd go.

You're a stubborn young man. Just like me in my youth.

You're saying that I'm like you? Heh. You've gotta be kidding.

You'll need to polish up your language.

I've felt it, too, by the way.

I've wondered if a body could rest.

Not just in darkness, but in light, as well, however faint.

Wait... Skeers...

Are you really... dying?

I've been a husk of a man for some time now.

My link to the Power of Darkness has been severed.

We both see it.

The world is far from what it should be.

When you ascend to the throne,

make it better.

Yeah.

He was born in darkness. So how can he shine?

Is this... light coming from me?