://Roots>>Episode 23

Trial
The Meatball Brigade is sitting in town while Hideo is jumping around.Haseo appears from the Chaos Gate,Hideo calls Tabby,"Mama",and also says that "Papa",which is Haseo has just arrived.Haseo stares at him as to why he just called him "Papa".Tabby tells him that she wanted to play those roles...Haseo wants to be left out of it,and he exits out.Seisaku asks Hideo if Touta was his father,Hideo knows Sei is right,but he thought Haseo is more of a suitable father character.Hideo apologizes,Tabby says he shouldnt feel sorry for that,Sei points out that "Haseo-papa" doesnt like them,and asks Tabby what they should do.Tabby doesnt really know.Out in the fields,Haseo is asking a player about Tri-Edge,this player has a very odd shaped head.He says he has only heard the rumors,but then asks Haseo why he is doing this.Haseo answers him,because he is a PKer.The player doesnt follow,Haseo says that Tri-Edge is also a PKer.As long as he continues his PKer hunt,he will find him eventually.The player asks if thats his only reason,Haseo looks away and asksthe player,what was his reason to PK that guy over there.He says nothing, but is attacked by Haseo and left to rot.

In town,Kuhn is asking Pai why he cant go in.Pai says he doesnt get it,Kuhn says she is right,he doesnt get it thats why he is asking.She tells him there is something called progression in this world,and at his current stage,she cant let him come in.Kuhn still wants to know why,Pai says his questions are going in circles.Yata interrupts them both as he says they are noisy,Pai apologizes.She tells him that its Kuhn who is being unreasonable,he speaks up that he doesnt like people to hide things from him.Yata decides to let him in after all.They are in the monitoring room,while they are all watching Haseo. Yata informs him that they are watching this PC,just like Kuhn,he too has special abilites.Kuhn stops to ask Yata if he was being monitored this way too.Pai tells him he simply got caught in their check program.Kuhn wants to know who they are.Yata asks Kuhn,if he has heard of the legend of the .hackers.Kuhn asks Yata if that was part of the game's setup.Yata answers him that it wasnt a setup,it was the reality.He also adds that neither is the power that is dormant in his body is a setup of the game.Pai adds on that in The World,there are things that are beyond our knowledge,to understand the cause of their existence and to try to control them is the job of their guild,Raven.Kuhn doesnt feel comfortable with even that explanation,Pai interrupts saying thats why she told him its too early for him to come in.Yata asks Pai if she has anything to report,in which she does,its about Haseo's situation.On the screen,Haseo turns to look,but he exits out,just before Tabby arrives.

Out in the fields,Tabby asks Kuhn what they want to talk about,he asks her if she knows Haseo.She says she does,but what about him? Kuhn tells her to warn him,that PKers are targeting him.Tabby already knew,since he is obviously looking for trouble if he continues to recklessly PKKing like that.Kuhn asks why he is so reckless,Tabby answers him that its a long story.Kuhn wants to hear it,if its ok with her.Tabby says maybe next time,Kuhn understands and tells her to tell him when she changes her mind.He's interested in finding out how someone can be targeted by dozens of PKers.Tabby asks what he just said,he is only saying that the PKers who hold a grudge against Haseo are planning to take revenge on him.She asks him if that is what he meant by "targeted"? Back in town,Phyllo is with Tabby and he tells her to leave him be.He also adds that even Haseo should be aware of that.Tabby believes he isnt aware of it,due to him being reckless.Phyllo says that he has to be aware of it then,and thats its good medicine for him.Tabby asks if its terrible,Phyllo tells her its just a game.Having bad experience here wont bring him any actual harm.The reason why someone must have a bad experience is...in most cases,the same as in reality, and Haseo should realize that.Tabby just says nevermind.

In a temple dungeon,a 3 players have just taken down a monster,while Haseo is running up to them.One of the players turns to ask if he is Haseo,Haseo just says,"What if I am?".The player asks if he is looking for Tri-Edge,Haseo asks if he knows where he is.He introduces himself as Fure,a friend.Fure saw it on the BBS,it appears someone has found something irregular.Haseo asks about the word "irregular".Fure says if he goes there,then possibly... Haseo asks if he will find him.He belives its just a possibility,Haseo asks of the location.Back in town,Phyllo visits the Merchant shop,he asks for Touta.They instead ask who he is,Phyllo tells them his name,and wants them to tell Touta this if they see him,"I want to see you as soon as possible".Piros tells him they dont do things like that,Phyllo gets right in his face and demands he starts doing that,and thats all he has to say.Iita asks what that was about,Piros isnt sure.Back in the monitoring room,Yata and Pai are looking at the screen,where a bunch of players are all on a field,Yata asks if this will effect him.Pai thinks that isnt enough,but its something worth watching none the less.Tabby and her guild are helping other players defeat a monter by healing them,Kuhn sends a message to Tabby,about it starting.Haseo comes in from a Chaos Gate to the location he was told about,Haseo is completely surrounded by these player assassins.He wonders if its TaN,but realizes it isnt.One of the players asks if they can have all his hidden items.Haseo realizes thats what this is all about.He brings out his twin blades,and says "Bring it on!".

Tabby's guild enters the scene from behind the Chaos Gate,they are all shocked at the numbers of assassins they are,Hideo tells Tabby to be strong.The fighting begins,Sei asks who should they.. under this situation,its impossible for them to help everyone,and then suggests they help just Haseo.Tabby agrees to help him,its just too unfair.They get ready as Sei says to help Haseo-papa, and he will heal him even if he has to lose his life,the Meatball Brigade runs forward.Back in town,Phyllo is at his usual spot,Touta steps in asking what's wrong,for Phyllo to leave a message,it has to be something big.Phyllo says he is a little troubled.Back to the fight,Haseo says this is enough to deal with these shrimps.Its useless even if they use something like this.The Meatball brigade is stuck in they very middle of all the assassins,but Hideo gets dragged along even further to the front,Sei and Tabby yell out his name as he is taken away from them.Haseo releases an explosion attack that blows a few away,while calling them all "Fools".Back to Phyllo and Touta,Touta understands what Phyllo just said,but doesnt get why he is telling him this,and asks if Phyllo wants him to stop it.Phyllo doubts he could,and that its probably already started.Touta asks what he is scheming about,Phyllo says he isnt,he then asks who started this incident,he wants Touta to investigate that.Touta thanks him for his business and will look into it.

Switching back to the fight for a brief moment,Haseo is dodging a few of their attacks,Tabby and Sei have caught up with Hideo,they realize they need to heal him but he is too far away.Back to Touta,he tells the merchants to get a PKer for him somewhere.Piros asks if he's going to sell them,Iita comments no one would want to buy them.Touta wants to ask them something,he wants them to bribe them.Returning to the fight,Haseo blocks an attack from a sword,its from the odd-head shaped player from earlier,saying "We meet again",Haseo calls him a bastard.The player tells the others to not interfere,Haseo is his.From behind a rock,Hideo casts a spell to heal him,and just in time too.Haseo brings out his blade and uses one quick strike,to deal with that player.The assassins see them,they are wondering why they are supporting him.The Meatball Brigade, run towards Haseo.Saburou is watching from a far,and says they are really having a Haseo festival and that half of them are left.He also comments its typical that there arent any healers among PKers.Hideo bumps into one of the assassins and gets attacked by him,Sei heals him,but gets ends up getting attacked.Tabby heals them both,but they are getting attacked once more,she yells at him to stop it a few times.The assassin approaches her,saying she is next.Saburo notices two assassins are heading towards the Chaos Gate,just when they are about to approach it,Saburou is sitting infront of it,she says one of her metaphors."You shouldnt pick up the dessert fork while everyone is drinking water off the dinner bowl".The assassins have no clue what she just said,Sabu comments with that many people,they used revival items to escape when things start to look dangerous and says its pathetic.She also tells them to go back,go back.They ask who she is,Sabu answers she is only a bystander.

Elsewhere in a dark temple dungeon,Touta is sitting there,waiting for someone.Bordaux enters the scene,she asks if it was him who wanted to talk to her.Touta says he has heard that they are planning to gang up on Haseo.She says they are already doing it as far as she knows.Touta understands,but asks if she is going.Bordaux asks what he wanted to talk about,Touta wants to know who the leader is.She asks what will he do,if he finds out.Touta will make the decision after he finds out,and then asks if she knows who it is.She asks,if if he tells him its her,Touta says he would ask why,she says Haseo is an eyesore,a lot of people think so.There is no way that many people would gather around just for some reward.Touta asks if thats it,she says,openly,yes.Touta says thats what he's talking about,she adds on,someday Haseo who killed a hundred PKers,will be defeated by their party alone,and then everyone will look up to them.That is the reason why she didnt go today.Touta asks if thats what she was talking about.Back to the fight,a pile of bodies are all around Haseo,there are a few left standing,but they are scared,they start to back away as Haseo moves a few inches forward.He says he doesnt care if they want to run,in which they do,he shows a evil grin,bring out his scythe and starts to charge at them.Only the sounds of slashing is heard several times,and nothing else.Its finally over, nothing but silence.Haseo puts away his weapon and starts to walk on,walking past or walking over all the dead bodies around him,he doesnt even notice Tabby's.

Back in town,Touta says he didnt find out about anything,but Phyllo's worries are needless.Phyllo asks about his worries,Touta believes he is worried about Haseo getting involved in some god-knows-what incident.Phyllo makes a weird sound with his voice,Touta asks whats wrong,he says its his cat scratching his leg,Touta asks what he is doing.Instead Touta adds on,its so stupid he wont even find it funny.At the waterfall area,the Meatball Brigade are there, Sei asks Tabby if she is still planning to support Haseo even after all that.She apologizes,Hideo says he doesnt want a father like that.Sei believes its impossible for them to continue supporting Haseo too,but Tabby still wants to help him.Hideo says forget it,he grabs Sei's hands while saying "Let's go".They leave her alone,she realizes he is all alone again.At the cathedral,Haseo is looking at the alter where Tri-Edge's mark is at.He starts to remember that time Shino was attacked by Tri-Edge,and where she is falling,along with the scene where her data was eroding away.He says he will never forgive him.From behind him,someone warps in,its Tabby.He walks over to her and pins one of his blades against her,she is surprised and asks why.He tells her to,dont ever follow him again and walks away from her.Tabby stands there,really sad and says his name.Haseo is outside walking to the Chaos Gate,he says he doesnt need anyone's help,he will do it himself.

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