Mass for the Dead Chapter 04



Fortress City E-Rantel (城塞都市エ・ランテル) is the fourth main story chapter in Mass for the Dead. It was released to the public on August 1, 2019.

Episode 1: Saint Clementine
The person at the gates of E-Rantel introduces herself as Saint Clementine to the newly arrived protagonist and their allies. She welcomes them to the city, explaining that under the direction of the Mayor of E-Rantel, she is working with the Adventurer's Guild to maintain the security of the city. Having heard of the protagonist and their role for saving the people of Carne Village she sincerely thanks him. Ian Als Heim is a bit more cynical to her welcome and noting how fast she responded to welcoming the protagonist. He finds it utterly ironic that a person who betrayed her nation would find patronage in the Kingdom. Clementine calmly states that she is merely helping the people of E-Rantel, however the Sunlight Scripture commander is not convinced having not forgotten what she did in the past. Clementine responds to Ian's accusation, stating that people can change and she is a different person now. Ian finds this to be unsatisfactory, which leaves the saint to warn Ian that if they clash here at the gates, rumors will spread.

Leinas Rockbruise seeing that there is some troubled history with Clementine and those from the Theocracy urges her colleague that fighting is not the time when the three nations are coming together. Ian reluctantly agrees with her. Leinas then moves to leave to return to her unit and deliver her report. She promises to see the protagonist again as soon as she has taken care of internal matters. Ian also needing to report back to his captain, though he gives the homunculus a warning about Clementine. She was a member of the Slane Theocracy who was infamous for many outrageous criminal acts. After she left her nation she apparently got caught up in the turmoil of the Kingdom. For some reason she was well received by the refugees. Despite her appearance and actions of benevolence, Ian warns the protagonist to not trust her. Before leaving he suggests that the protagonist to visit the barracks of the Theocracy, offering hospitality with food and rooms provided.

Left with Saint Clementine, the protagonist and Surako are given an offer by the saint of a tour of the city. The protagonist seeking to establish connections readily agrees. The two visitors follow Clementine through the crowds of the city where the latter explains that the city is close to the border of the three nations and thus has flourished as a trading hub. Ever since the appearance of the Cracks, the influential people from the three nations gathered, and the city was flooded with refugees, causing the population to increase. During the tour, a group of refugee children point out to Clementine, who briefly pauses to greet and comfort them.

Clementine then goes to explain that though the city is vast, and surrounded by triple walls, it is still not easy to accommodate all the people. Currently the military facilities are on the periphery, while the citizens mostly inhabit the middle part of the city, while all the political institutions are in the inner wall. For the refugees the are designated in the outer periphery. A fourth wall is under construction to strengthen the city's defense capabilities and to secure cultivated land to improve food self-sufficiency. A large amount of stones are needed to build the wall so a quarry in the nearby mines are being operated day and night by the refugees. After the saint asks the protagonist where they would like to visit, they are taken to the Adventurer's Guild for employment.

When they reach the guild they notice a commotion inside. There they find a blonde hair copper ranked adventurer complaining to the guild's receptionist to be given higher ranked jobs stating that she is capable. She is denied as the adventurer has not accrued enough achievements. Clementine decides to intervene in the conversation and asks for help in registering the protagonist as an adventurer. The receptionist immediately recognizes the holy woman, and complies. The same cannot be said for the blonde adventurer, who's name is So, but seeing that she is getting nowhere with her request, she leaves the reception table.

Clementine then illustrates the rules of the Adventurer Guild, an that they have eight plates which adventurers advance in rank starting from a copper plate. However given that the protagonist's abilities are recognized by the Sunlight Scripture, the saint asks the receptionist if the guild would consider promoting them to a higher rank. Since it is a recommendation from the Saint of E-Rantel, the guild approves the request. Soi having returned demands to be given to same opportunity to prove that she is more than a copper ranked adventurer. Saint Clementine approves and then arranges for mock battles between other adventurers to make the evaluation. While the plan is reasonably, the protagonist sees it as a way for Clementine to gauge their strength. Nonetheless the protagonist accepts the conditions, which pleases Clementine. Soi tells the homunculus to be careful, drawing confusion from Suarko as why a stranger is showing concern to them.

Episode 2: Adventurers
A large crowd of adventurers gather at the training grounds of the guild. After hearing rumors that whoever competes in the mocked matches and wins, will receive the honor of being introduced to influential members of the city, they are all eager to participate. Everyone eventually calms down once Saint Clementine appears. Those that wish to raise their ranks are allowed to take part against the new challenger, the protagonist. Most of the adventurers present don't expect much from the new adventurer. The first challenger is a big husky iron ranked adventurer. He is quickly defeated by the protagonist. Though it is a victory, the warriors attending the mock battles do not think much of it as iron ranked adventurers are easiest to defeat. The next contender is a rough looking gold ranked adventurer. Surako is worried as the level of opponent has gone up, but the protagonist is confident of their skills.

Once the gold ranked adventurer is on the ground, many in the crowd are in disbelief. Even though Clementine recommended the protagonist they think the win to be a fluke. It was only after the defeat of a second gold adventurer, did the crowd start to admit perhaps the newcomer was the real deal.

Clementine who has been observing the fights, ponders which country the protagonist and associates are truly from. Eliminating the Dragon Kingdom and Argland Council State, as those countries have already fallen, and also the Roble Holy Kingdom since contact was never reestablished. Her mental musings bring her to the City-State Alliance which is currently in negotiations with the Empire. At this point she cannot draw absolute conclusions. The saint addresses the gathered and asks if there are anymore challengers.