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Chapter 21

So Kiliko's real name is Nathanael and, judging by what he calls him, Eco's real name is Francesco.

So our boy is not only a runaway but he turns to be in line for succession to the house of Lagen. Kiliko wants to throw him out for that reason but Eco insists that he has no interest in the House anymore, being here for a different reason. He calls the house "bound by the archives of Rovisco, like a golem that can't move at all." Kiliko orders him seized, snitching that he's the mastermind behind the whole Amontel invading thing. Eco dodges, whining that he's no good at the whole fighting thing...but is actually biding his time for the "watchdogs of the waterway" to break through the floor and give him an opportunity to escape. He tells Kiliko goodbye amidst the latter's demands he tell him his plans.

Outside, the worms are attacking everyone while Linna watches in horror, wondering if he should even help. Being Linna, he does decide to help.

Meanwhile, Kiliko tells the guards that the Watchdogs are vulnerable to light, instructing them to unlock the storeroom and smear the blade with Cantharis and Arzenica. Kiliko easily figures out Eco is responsible for letting the Watchdogs escape but he doesn't know why he did it.

Meanwhile, Seamrog and Musca are inside with the latter frustrated that she can't see what all the commotion is about outside. Seamrog also wants to use the event as an opportunity to escape but he wants to bide his time more, telling Musca that a lady knows when to wait. Musca says she knows...but she's taking a break from being a lady. Seamrog feels like his hands are tied and tells the guard that Musca has a stomachache and they need to take her to the doctor.

We cut to Belca waking up in a cold damp place. At first he thinks he's back in the Fox's Cave...but then he realizes he's in the waterways, struggling to get himself thrown down by the Amontel. One named Saku wants to cut his head off and throw it into the castle but another named Taihaku stops him, wanting to ask his name first. Saku protests that they're not here to get names; they're here to teach the elite that the Amontel are not just insects that they can hunt down whenever they want. Also, they need to be punished for spilling the blood of the Kannagi (a priestess of some kind, according to the translator's notes). The other Amontel agree, wanting revenge for the kingdom for them wiping out the bloodline of the Kannagi from their village. They say if the Amontel are going to die, they should at least fight back against their exterminators. And right now, they want to teach them the pain of losing someone they were trying to protect. Belca then speaks up, asking if there's anyone there who can understand him. No one answers but one of them is killed by a thing moving too fast to be seen. Saku tells them to head to the end of the passage to escape it, dragging Belca with him...only for a guard dressed in black to approach from the shadows, assuring Belca that he'll save him from these "monsters".

Belca recognizes him as one of Kiliko's men and asks him if Orcelito and Linna are alright. The guard assures him they are fine and Belca tells the guard to take the Amontel as prisoners so that they can be judged according to the law. He's strong so he shouldn't have any trouble with them. The guard coldly responds that only "people" have the right to be judged by the law. Belca protests that the Amontel are people, calling them by the native name "Hokulea", much to the latters' own shock. The guard doesn't care...but he and his allies are set upon by the Watchdogs, complicating matters further.

Belca and the Hokulea get away in the confusion and Belca says the names Shingetsu and Tenrou, startling the Hokulea. He knows the name of their group and he knows "the siblings"...now they know who he is. Taihaku asks if he's Belca and Saku says he thought Belca was just an impostor pretending to be a prince. But if he is indeed royalty, he has a target on his head just like Hector did. Taihaku said since Belca risked his life to save them a while ago, they would lose their pride if they allow harm to come to him. Belca identifies himself and Taihaku apologizes on his group's behalf (before awkwardly remembering that Belca can't understand them). Belca cuts his finger and writes on a random parchment (that he just carries with him?) to give to the Hokulea, needing them to deliver the message to Shingetsu or Tenrou so that they know about Orcelito's plan.

Then the guards catch up to attack, implicitly warning Belca not to give them any reason to suspect that he's in league with the Hokulea. Saku pushes Belca away, telling him to give the cloth (oh, that makes more sense) to Saisei, saying he can trust him with it. He also thanks him for allowing his younger brother to return to the village. A child Hokulea takes Belca's wrist and runs off with Belca to exit the waterways...only to find their exit blocked off.

Outside, the guards are successfully driving off the Watchdogs and Linna breaks into the castle, ending the chapter at the start of his mission to find and save Belca.