Chapter 35 (1/2)

Arisa and Ellie — 1

“…Arisa, Ellie,”

I unconsciously jumped toward Edgar who was standing dumbstruck in the middle of the training field.

“Edgar…you survived…I'm glad you survived…I'm so glad…!”

—I was relieved that he didn't die and disappear from me.

Despite my heart's aching, I was so happy that I cried.

All the while, Edgar brushed my head gently.

“…You finally called me Edgar, huh Ellie.”

“…can't I? Do you want me to call you master instead? I don't mind if you're my master, you know?”

I suggested to him with upturned eyes, but he replied with a bitter smile;

“…Edgar is fine. Once again, good to see you, Ellie.”

To Edgar's smile, I smiled back and replied,

“Yeah, Edgar!”

As for why I have grown more honest, we would need to look back in time.

After Edgar left me who was jailed in Gram's bas.e.m.e.nt…Arissama appeared before me.

Her eyes concealed coldness, as if she's looking at me like I'm a pebble on the roadside.

As for the reason why the usually kind Arissama changed so gravely…I knew it very well.

I had involved Edgar in this fight…the person who Arissama treasures more dearly than her own life.

“…my apologies, Arissama…because of me, Edgar-sama had to fight…”

Her response to what I said was cold;

“Right. Because of you, Edgar had to make a bitter memory.”

Arissama's voice echoed in the silent bas.e.m.e.nt.

“…It would've been better if you don't exist.”

“…kh!”

Arissama directed her killing intent towards me.

I felt it by instincts, and my body shudders in response…but then I realized.

Arisa came closer to the cell Ellie was locked up in.¹

And then…she pried open the iron grating with her arms.

With a dull sound, the gratings are crushed.

“N-No way…!!”

Who would have thought that a frail-looking girl would be able to twist a metal bar.

It was so unbelievable that it looks foolish.

Ellie shuddered in front of such spectacle.

Aah…she's way beyond me.

She's on a whole different level than me.

She's beyond the limits of any creatures, and she's on a different league.

Compared to her, maybe I'm just an insect.

Those feelings of resignation immediately dominated over Ellie.

If she made the slightest mistake now, she would undoubtedly be killed by her.

That was the thought…no, the conviction that appeared in her mind.

As her trembling got worse by the second, her teeth clattered audibly.

“…Get out.”

“Yes!”

An immediate answer.

Grip

And then, as Ellie exited her cell, Arisa grabbed her by her head and pulled it closer to her face.

“Hii!?”

Because of her overbearing pressure, Ellie's body froze.

—No, I don't want to die…I don't want to die! Save me save me save me…!

“Ellie. You're weak.”

Her red pupils shone in the darkness.

“Haa…haa…haa…”

Her breathing turned more erratic…rougher…shorter.

Yet she was strained, as she was unable to draw her breath.

“But aren't you glad that Edgar whom I loved so, so dearly is willing to save you. It seems like he wants to rescue you.”

“Aa…a…a…”

Ellie doesn't avert her eyes from Arisa. She couldn't.

Her instincts told her that this is the closest she's been to death.

“So listen, Ellie. I'll let you live for now.”

“……kh………k……kh!”

—Is that true? Then why are you showing your killing intent so strongly that I feel like throwing up?

“You're only alive thanks to Edgar.”

As she said that, her bloodl.u.s.t dissipates.

In that moment, Ellie—”KHAA!?” resumed breathing, coughing at the start before her respiration returned to normal. Ellie was so overwhelmed with fear that she forgot to breathe.

After she calmed her breathing, she wondered whether she should thank her or not; she didn't know what to express. She couldn't muster a response to what Arisa just said.

It's as if her head is no longer working.

—Her life was saved. There are no leeway in her brain to think about anything else.

And then, Arisa hugged Ellie.

“Hey, Ellie?”

“Arissama…”

“What do you live for?”

“…right now…it's for the revenge of my family…”

“Are you willing to risk your life for it?”

“…yes…I think so.”

Arisa chuckled at such ambiguous answer.

“You barely have a resolution, have you.”

Saying that, Arisa lets go of Ellie.

“When I first saw you, you were thinking of nothing but revenge. I thought we were the same at that time; lost in our devotion to one thing.”

Arisa hated how she saw a part of her in Ellie.

“But I feel that that part of you is missing now.”

“—! That's impossible!” Ellie sprung up, “I am really taking revenge for my family! For that sake, I'm willing to put my life on the line!”