74 Episode 14 "Tears in front of the grave".txt (2/2)

'It wasn't me who saved you guys,'

............

He was the one who taught me about you. If it hadn't been for him, I might not have been able to help you guys.

So it was Amatsu who helped Michelle and the others,

Iori said.

'...... Oh, your brother is.'

--It wasn't like he died in vain.

Iori turns to leave the room, saying he'd like to keep himself a secret if possible.

The sight of his back reminded Michelle of something.

That she had met a group of people when she was about to leave the forest.

When he told her about it, Iori stopped moving with a snap.

'...... Did that group have a name or something to say about it?'

Going through the memories, Michelle remembers something.

Just before she passed out, one of the men spoke the words that one of the men had spoken.

'-- I think it was ...... called Mr. Marx,'

You're not going to be able to do that.

...... brother.

The next day.

Michelle had come to that forest.

The orphanage is off-limits by the cathedral knights, but you can enter near the entrance.

Michel buried the cloth given to him by Iori in the ground.

A wooden plaque with his name on it is inserted and a grave is made.

The victims of the orphanage, whose bodies remain, will have their graves made as soon as the investigation is complete.

The graves of Yuma and the others are already done, and they just stopped by before coming here.

But there is no grave for Amatsu.

Because as a homunculus, he has no bodies left.

And there are only a few people who know that he helped them.

None of the children, including Sheena, knew that Amatsu had fought so hard for them.

I didn't like that.

'...... so I made your brother's grave. It's not gorgeous, but forgive me for this.

Turning to the grave he had made, Michelle says.

'As you can see, I don't have a single injury anymore. I was released from the hospital yesterday. Sheena's going to take a little longer, but she'll be fine. She doesn't remember much about ...... the orphanage.

I hope I can just forget about it ......, Michelle muttered.

'The other kids are totally fine. They're not injured or sick at all. It's just that they're getting pissed off at the people in the Saint's Hall of Fame knights for jumping up and down.

They were playing a prank on a knight named Leo who came to check on them and was very angry.

He doesn't seem to understand George and the others either.

'It's ......, so I've got to get my shit together.

I'm the biggest person in that one.

All of ....... It's all because of your brother. Everyone is screaming without knowing what's going on, Sheena is able to be in the hospital, and I'm here because of ....... It's all because of your brother's help.

A rustling wind blows and the trees around us sway.

No one replies to Michelle's words.

...... Thank you, brother.

For the past few days, everything was fuzzy.

It wasn't clear and I didn't feel it.

I really wanted to thank you ...... in person. To your brother, thank you ....... It's because of your brother that we were all saved thanks to .......

And yet, I found myself with tears running down my cheeks.

I was able to endure it when Iori was there.

I couldn't hold back the tears as they poured out of me.

”I wanted to talk to ...... more with you .......

Then Michelle let out a sob.

The only thing he thought about was Amatsu.

That her brother, who saved her, was a real hero.

''Ahh...... uhhhh!''

The tears that ran down Michelle's cheeks fell from her cheeks.

Pot by pot, they seeped into the soil of the grave.

◆

Are you done with ......?

With my back to the girl who is crying alone at the graveside, I walk to the exit of the forest.

Elfie follows from behind.

...... Yeah. I don't see that guy moving.

Besides, I didn't want to do any more peeking.

...... myself, because I'm disgusted with myself.

I don't want to taint her feelings.

You know I love it when you do that, don't you?

...... Shut up. Let's go.

Don't be embarrassed.

He walks without letting down his guard of his surroundings.

Not now, but there is the occasional sense of being watched.

Perhaps it's Liuzas and the others.

No attacks, but we can't let our guard down for a moment.

They're a nasty bunch.

”But it was a nasty one.

...... Right.

The bodies found were in the dozens.

Looking at the trail, nearly ten times that many people would have been killed.

They would have been regularly incinerated or otherwise disposed of.

Most of the bodies were children, but there were ...... a few, with adults mixed in.

'...... By the way, there was a missing person case in the Holy City, wasn't there?

Yeah. I'm pretty sure they were killed in that basement.

The question is, why were the adults being killed?

''There were a good number of children in the orphanage. If we're going to replenish our magic, we should only use them. It would be hard to get rid of children with no relatives, and it would be hard to get rid of them even if you got rid of them.

''Why did you go to the trouble of disposing of them, kidnapping people to get rid of them ......?

I have some guesses, but I haven't been able to back them up.

Well, that's something we'll have to investigate in the future.

This is not the end of the story, you know.

Do we know who we're going to hit next?

Yeah, I do.

In the hospital room, I remember what Michelle said to me.

'-- I think it was ...... Mr. Marx,' he said.

I have no doubt that he's biting on this one.

So let's expose him and get my revenge.

I need to know how to get revenge, too.

............

It occurred to me.

You know, about the homunculus.

”...... I was a homunculus back then.

I don't know if he's gonna--

Did you say something?

...... No.

He shook his head and walked on.

We've already parted ways.

I'm going my way.

Let's get our revenge, shall we?