The beast tamer exiled from the hero’s party and the cat eared girl from the strongest race meet
There was trouble when we encountered Cassion, but… somehow we managed to get back to the surface.
We protected the people who’d been taken… and learned the Four Heavenly Kings’ objective. All that’s left is to cross the sea and return to Kriegland together with the people who were abducted — then the request will be complete.
Just a little more. We can almost get out. And yet…
“Rain, this is bad.”
Tania — who was carrying Yunia and Ani on her back and going ahead — stopped in her tracks.
What’s wrong? Could the enemy have gotten ahead of us?
We prepared for that possibility… but an even worse development followed.
“These kids look like they’re in terrible pain… what should we do?”
Sora and Luna laid a blanket on the ground… and Tania gently laid Yunia and Ani down.
“Yunia? Ani?”
Both of them were flushed and panting hard. Their minds seemed fogged; they didn’t respond to our calls.
“Tania. How long has it been like this?”
“I’m not sure, but… I think they lost their energy after their sister turned like that.”
“I see…”
Their beloved sister had died — and not only that, she’d been turned into a monster… The shock must have been devastating. The damage to their hearts was now showing on the surface.
When someone loses the will to live, they can die easily.
They were already weakened from being imprisoned. Add the emotional damage, and they quickly neared their limits.
“Sora, Luna. Can’t you do something with magic?”
“Mmm… sorry, that’s difficult.”
“We can treat injuries to an extent, but because this is caused by a wound to their hearts, there’s nothing Sora and I can do… I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t apologize. It’s my fault for asking the impossible.”
We needed to get them to a healer quickly.
“…Sora, Luna. You said the other captives were sent to a safe place by teleportation — where was that?”
“Near the place where we landed.”
“There are no monsters or demonfolk around there, so they can hide for a while.”
“So that means they’re still on the western continent…?”
We couldn’t have Tania revert to her dragon form and carry us straight back to Kriegland. Doing that would mean abandoning the others.
Even if we made round trips, we might not have the time. The best option was to join the others and lead everyone out together.
But looking at Yunia and Ani, we couldn’t take reckless actions. We had to move carefully — slowly and gently so as not to burden them.
“…But—”
Thinking about pursuers, we wanted to hurry as much as possible. Someone like Altera wouldn’t let us escape easily. She’d be chasing us desperately.
Considering Yunia’s burden with Ani, we couldn’t move at full speed. But if we didn’t, we’d be overtaken.
“Rain.”
Yuki looked at me with a very grim expression. He was probably thinking the same thing I was.
“This is hard and cruel…but we have to make a decision.”
“That decision is…?”
“To abandon these kids.”
“Yuki, but—”
“I know. I know how awful what I’m saying is. I’m fully aware… but there’s no other way.”
Yuki clenched his fist so hard blood welled up where he gripped.
It was like tears of the heart.
“If we worry about these kids, the enemy will catch up to us. If that happens, it’s over. Not just us — we won’t be able to save the others who’re probably waiting near the shore. Nothing will remain.”
“…”
“But if we abandon these kids, we can save the others. It’s the worst choice, but… something will remain.”
“That’s true…”
Yuki’s words were overwhelmingly logical. All-out annihilation, or sacrifice two to save many — on that choice, the latter is overwhelmingly right.
Someone who can make such a choice is very strong.
“Why… are you so strong, Yuki? I don’t want anyone to be sacrificed…”
“But Gray was sacrificed.”
“…”
“I’m royalty, so when the time comes I’ll be forced to make decisions. Maybe this is that time. That’s part of it, but the main reason is Gray. He sacrificed himself to let us live. He gave his body and soul. We absolutely must survive. We carry his will.”
“…I guess that’s it. Is there no other way…?”
At Yuki’s words, everyone looked regretful — then suppressed their emotions and wore faces of resignation.
I think I had a similar expression.
Gray sacrificed himself to bring us here. We can’t let his death be in vain. We must survive and save as many people as possible.
That is what it means to carry Gray’s will. We can’t waste what he entrusted to us.
So I decided to abandon Yunia and Ani…
“Are you really sure about that, Rain-sama?”
Iris, who had been the only one keeping a neutral expression, asked quietly. Her eyes seemed to plead with something.
“Iris…? I…”
Looking at Iris’s eyes shook me deeply. I remembered meeting her and when I had pushed my selfish will through.
Yes — back then I was…
“Rain, let’s go. We have to hurry — the pursuers are coming.”
“No.”
“Rain?”
“I can’t do it.”
I denied Yuki’s overwhelmingly logical argument.
Comments
Post a Comment