The beast tamer exiled from the hero’s party and the cat eared girl from the strongest race meet
“I won’t abandon Yunia and Ani.”
The hesitation vanished.
As I said it firmly, everyone’s faces brightened.
Looks like, deep down, they all felt the same way.
Even in a moment like this, that realization made me happy.
“Rain, that’s…”
Yuki’s expression hardened.
He probably wanted to say it was impossible.
Then I suddenly remembered Ax and Cell.
We had both refused to back down and ended up clashing…
Would it be the same this time?
Would I end up fighting Yuki, too?
He’s my first friend my own age, so I really want to avoid that…
But—
To stay true to myself,
I have to follow the path I believe in.
“I get how you feel. No one wants to abandon such little kids. But if we don’t… we’ll all be wiped out. Not just us—those we’ve already helped escape will be trapped on the Western Continent and die too. It’s harsh, but Rain… you’d be taking their lives as well.”
“Yeah, if things stay like this, that’s how it’ll go.”
“Huh?”
I’ve learned my lesson.
I’m not reckless enough to risk everyone’s lives—including the captives’—just for my own stubbornness.
“We can’t move fast enough, and that’ll let the pursuers catch us. So abandoning Yunia and Ani isn’t an option.”
“Then… what do you propose?”
“It’s simple. If we’re slower, then I’ll just make the enemy slower too. I’ll stay behind and hold them off.”
“What!?”
Yuki was shocked—
but the others… not so much.
We’ve known each other a long time.
They probably guessed I’d say that.
But that doesn’t mean they approve.
They gave me those half-lidded, disapproving looks that basically said, “There he goes again, acting on his own.”
“I’ll stop the enemy’s advance. While I’m holding them off, you all take Yunia and Ani and get as far away as you can. Either way, even if we abandon them, the pursuers might still catch up.”
“…Rain, what do you plan to do after that?”
“Of course, I don’t intend to die. Once you’ve put enough distance between us, give me a signal—maybe shoot some magic into the sky. When I see it, I’ll retreat and catch up with you.”
“Don’t say something like that so casually!!!”
Yuki shouted, voice full of raw anger, glaring straight at me.
“Even Gray couldn’t do it! What makes you think you can!? It’s impossible! Why are you trying to throw your life away like this!?”
It wasn’t anger he was expressing—
it was grief.
He’d already lost a precious comrade,
and now he was terrified of losing me too.
That sadness turned into rejection of the idea itself.
He’s such a kind person.
If he becomes king one day, this country will be in good hands.
“Sorry for making you worry.”
“If you’re sorry, then take back that stupid idea.”
“Sorry, I can’t do that.”
“Why!? You know as well as I do that we have no choice but to abandon them! There’s no other way!”
“I know. I know… That’s why, in the end, this really is just my selfishness.”
That’s just the kind of person I am.
If things don’t go the way I believe they should, I can’t accept it.
And—
to reach the future I envision,
I’ll do whatever it takes.
“If we’re being practical, isn’t it better for me to risk my life than to sacrifice Yunia and Ani?”
“That’s not—!”
“It is. Two young lives with a future ahead of them, versus one ordinary one. Which is worth more?”
“…That’s…”
“Anyway, enough of the logical talk. What I really want to say is… I’m done with it.”
“Rain…?”
“I’m done surviving at the cost of someone else’s life.”
“…”
“I told myself what happened with Gray couldn’t be helped, but… I still can’t accept it. I’ve regretted it over and over. I should’ve stopped him. I should’ve stayed behind too. It was the wrong choice, and I know that now. So I won’t make that mistake again. I’ll choose the path where we don’t abandon them.”
“But still—!”
“I’ll do whatever it takes. Just like Gray did, I’ll stake my life on this. If I’m going to be selfish, I’ll at least have the resolve to back it up. I won’t sacrifice anyone ever again… absolutely not!!”
“…”
Sensing my absolute resolve, Yuki fell silent.
I could tell he still wanted to stop me—
but faced with my determination, he couldn’t find the words.
To reassure him, I went on.
“Just so you know… I really don’t plan on dying. That’s not bravado or a lie to make you feel better—I mean it.”
“That’s impossible…”
“Oh? Says who?”
“That’s…”
“I’m coming back alive. Because I’ve decided that no one will die. And that includes me.”
“Ah…”
“Besides, I promised Gray. I won’t die here. I’ll live—and I’ll live true to myself.”
“Rain…”
“Abandoning Yunia and Ani here wouldn’t be true to who I am. It would break the promise I made to Gray. And I refuse to do that. That would make his sacrifice meaningless.”
“…You’re right…”
“You all understand that too, don’t you?”
Tania, Iris, Sora, and Luna nodded without hesitation.
“Rain doing something reckless isn’t exactly new, so we’re kind of used to it. Still, we’ll worry.”
“But we believe that Rain wouldn’t do anything that would truly sadden us.”
“Don’t worry about Yunia, Ani, or the others. I shall personally see them safely to Kriegland.”
“Indeed. If we do not believe in Lord Rain, then who will? Therefore, we place our complete trust in him.”
“Yeah… thank you, everyone.”
They were surely worried sick—
but they held it in, choosing instead to trust me and see me off.
They respected my decision.
They really are the best companions.
I thank the gods for letting me meet them.
“…Haah.”
With a sigh that sounded like surrender, Yuki exhaled.
His face looked strangely refreshed.
“I didn’t realize you were this stubborn, Rain. Looks like I still don’t know you as well as I thought.”
“You can learn more from now on.”
“I will. Which is why… I’ll stay too.”
“Eh!?”
That one completely caught me off guard.
I stared at Yuki, eyes wide.
“Wait, wait, wait! That’s not happening.”
“If you get to be selfish, then I get to be selfish too. You can’t stop me.”
“One’s enough! We don’t need two!”
“But wouldn’t two of us have a better chance of surviving?”
“…I—”
I had no comeback.
“You’re serious…?”
“Of course.”
“It’s dangerous! And you’re a prince—”
“That’s right. A prince shouldn’t be doing reckless things like this. Gray would definitely yell at me if he were here.”
“Then why—”
“Because if I just left you behind, Gray would yell at me anyway. Or worse—he’d be disappointed.”
“Why…?”
“You really don’t get it? You’re sharp sometimes and totally clueless other times.”
Yuki smiled.
It was a pure, clear smile—like a cloudless blue sky.
“I’m your friend, Rain.”
“Ah…”
“Helping a friend is the natural thing to do, isn’t it? If I abandoned you here, Gray would be furious. I wouldn’t be worthy of being the man he could be proud of. I want to keep my promise to him too.”
“…Yuki…”
“If we can do this without abandoning Yunia and Ani, then I’ll put my faith in you. Because you’re my friend.”
“…Ah…”
Those words were so moving I nearly cried.
But now wasn’t the time for tears.
Right now—
“Thank you.”
I smiled back, and Yuki and I shook hands firmly.
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