Year 141_Keireki Era_Spring/09
I released Suou, who thrashed and struggled.
And before she could complain,
"We need to hurry and help the townspeople. Got it?"
In her current state, telling her to "calm down!" would probably be pointless.
Somehow, I understand that much.
That's why I deliver our goal straight to the point.
"We'll help as many townspeople as we can and then escape."
"Ah... yeah, you're right! Like hell I'll let myself get sold off by those slavers!"
"Do you still have the map memorized?"
"Of course I do. Father always praised my memory, after all."
"Then we're heading north.
You’ll escape to Izumist. While their relationship with Tuiknok isn't great, they shouldn't treat you badly, especially given the mayor's background. Besides, the talkative kid we helped out that time might smooth things over for you."
"O-oh..."
I blurted it all out, but she seemed to understand for now.
"What about you, Zerog?"
"I will meet you at the checkpoint."
"... Got it."
After taking a few steps forward, she stops.
"—Hey, listen."
"What is it?"
"Don't do anything reckless and leave my side... partner."
Partner, huh.
It makes me happy. Meeting someone who calls me that—it truly does.
But I have to betray Suou.
To live, my own heart, my memories, my past—they're just too heavy.
So, at the very least, I’ll aim for an end that carries some meaning. It may not be absolution, but...
"... Yeah, I understand, partner."
Hearing my words, she nods and dashes toward the town center like a released arrow.
If only my heart were stronger, more righteous, perhaps I could have stayed with Suou.
—I understand, yet I still betray her.
Memories are different. My very heart seems to cry out against it.
After a while, footsteps.
The sound and presence pull me from my brooding thoughts.
"You’re not going with her, Zerogram?"
"I figured you'd show up here. Knight Errant Aldoharth."
"As a knight in service to the Count’s house, I can’t let someone as sharp as you join forces with North Tuiknok."
This situation isn’t bad.
If I can hold off one knight on my own, that’s a small price to pay.
"So, you're here to kill me?"
"Indeed. If you stayed here alone to wait for a knight, it must mean you wish for that, no?"
Then, at the very least, I’ll try to raise the value of my life as high as I can.
"I'm a dying man anyway. At least let me take a souvenir to the afterlife."
"What do you wish for?"
"Information... No, I'd rather talk to you."
From the town center, the sound of clashing swords echoes.
Her tail sways subtly. Is it a habit when she’s thinking, or is she reacting to something else?
"Very well. Your partner seems skilled. If she takes out all our regular soldiers, that won’t bode well for me. Let’s say we talk until five of them fall."
"Hey, aren’t those your allies’ lives?"
"The so-called ‘regular soldiers’ are merely thugs. If those scum, who’ve gone around assaulting villagers in the name of the Count, are wiped out, it’d be a blessing."
Her reasoning seems less pragmatic and more like genuine disdain for them.
There must be a reason why someone like her is helping with the harvest.
"Why did Tuiknok harvest a town within its own territory?"
"War funds are scarce. Tuiknok lacks reliable sources of income."
"War funds?"
"Two have fallen," she says, continuing.
"Fools inspired by Count Biumode's territorial ambitions keep pressuring Tuiknok.
The Count’s household finances are in shambles. Personally, I think the Count Tuiknok is just hiring too many knights out of vanity."
Or perhaps, instead of being inspired, they intended to cooperate from the beginning.
There’s not enough information to judge.
"Why are you so forthcoming?"
"Three down.
What would it matter, sharing with someone who’ll soon be dead? Even if it gets passed on, I don't care.
Count Tuiknok is not truly my lord, nor do I favor him."
"Your lord, then—"
"Four down.
Back in my homeland. Surely, my homeland is the same as your partner's."
I do want to know more about Suou. But asking her about it feels wrong.
So instead, I’ll ask what I most want to know.
I’ve chosen to betray my partner's trust to create this moment.
"What happened to Luluciette?"
"It’s occupied by Count Biumode's forces. However, the knights and adventurers of Luluciette are still active.
Additionally, Count Biumode's crackdown on the Adventurers’ Guild has provoked strong backlash from other guilds—especially the largest, the Mage Guild.
There are even extreme opinions circulating. Depending on their actions, they might aid in liberating Luluciette.
—Five down."
"Thanks for everything."
So, Luluciette isn’t finished yet.
That’s all I needed to know. That’s enough.
I toss away the stone in my hand.
Resistance would be meaningless.
"... Why are you giving up? What about your promise to your partner?"
So, she heard.
Did she wait until our conversation ended? She’s quite the considerate type.
Well, with her skill, she could’ve killed the mayor if she wanted to.
"I don’t think I can escape... Besides, living this life is too hard for me. It’s been painful, all along."
"Painful?"
She doesn’t ask out of curiosity but to give me space to confess.
"If you knew you could never reclaim something precious? Even if it still exists in the same place, with the same people you cared about, but you alone could never return to it?
And even if you told the truth and were accepted back, it would bring misfortune to those precious to you?
… What would you do?"
A delusional rambling, something easily dismissed.
Yet she neither mocks nor ridicules me.
Her expression is a mix of sympathy and nostalgia.
"... If it were me—"
She gently glances at her sword.
"I’d abandon my name, avoid involvement, and likely waste away. Much as I am now."
"I see… Maybe we could’ve been friends, then."
"No, Zerogram.
Even if we could, it would’ve been nothing more than licking each other's wounds."
"Hahaha. True enough. The eighth soldier just went down."
"Your partner’s skill is impressive."
"Isn’t she?"
"And your readiness to give up is pitiable."
With a swift motion, her blade strikes.
"This is my farewell. Something I once desperately sought but never gained. At least, may you find peace."
Suou, I’m truly sorry.
I was too weak. I’m so sorry.
The memories of my time in Luluciette were too heavy for me to bear.
The only choice left for me is to forget.
So, please forget about someone like me, a worthless bandit.
—Yet, despite the short time I lived in Luluciette, it still weighs so heavily on my heart.
Will she suffer for this?
Or perhaps, living a single life means she can forget?
I couldn’t begin to understand the feelings of someone who lives but one life.
As consciousness slips into darkness, waves of complex emotions for Biumode engulfed me.
Gram wished for his comrades’ future, Vilgram prayed for their safety, and Zerogram cherished their kindness.
Their thoughts converge into one wish.
Even if I forget myself, please let the friends and allies of Luluciette and Biumode...
Even if I was a worthless bandit, please let them not be hurt in the whirlpool of conflict.
Perhaps no strong wish can come true, but until all of my consciousness faded away, I kept on wishing.
What do you think about this chapter?
