Vol 1 Chapter 3.09 (2/2)
That moment, Volkov suddenly looked at me. His eyes seemed like they were soundlessly pleading something. That would probably be—
”Lilith, let's go.”
I pulled Lilith.
”Wait, why are you saying this as well!”
”Please consider Volkov's feelings.”
”I—”
”Broke.” Volkov suddenly said, ”Volkov- broke.”
”......Eh?” Lilith stared at Volkov with uneasiness written all over her face.
As though he was talking about things that did not concern him, he explained: ”Volkov- burnt- in- truck. Safety- circuit- broke. So- Volkov- used- weapons....... So- it- activated.”
”Activated...... what?”
Lilith asked cautiously as though she was afraid of hearing the answer, while Volkov answered in his usual deep voice.
”Self-destruct setting.”
At that instant, Lilith was dumbfounded.
Volkov doesn't lie, and doesn't joke.
Not even once.
I grabbed the ladder of the waterways, looking at Volkov's face again. A silent but determined will was hidden in the pair of square eyes.
I noticed. Volkov was scared. He was scared that he would trouble us if he ran away with us as a military robot.
Lilith slowly shook her head, asking.
”You're joking, right? Self-destruct settings and such, those were just lies that you just thought of...... right?”
Lilith gazed at him with a penetrating stare.
Volkov answered simply: ”Really.”
”So- goodbye.”
The cover of the entrance was covered up. Volkov's face gradually disappeared as well.
”Volkov, no! Don't decide things by yourself! We're running away together!”
He did not answer Lilith, but looked at me while saying.
”Iris, I'll leave Lilith to you.”
I nodded. His determination wouldn't be stopped. Also, we can't stop him by our powers alone.
But Lilith did not give up, she shouted ”What are you doing, stop that! Let go of me!”, while frantically pus.h.i.+ng away Volkov's hands with her left hand. Volkov tightly held Lilith's arms, sealing her movement. Then, he stared directly at Lilith.
”...... Volkov?” Lilith shot an uneasy gaze towards the giant who suddenly stopped his movements. Volkov gazed at Lilith soundlessly. It was as though time stopped flowing at that moment, the two gazing at each other.
”Lilith.”
That moment, Volkov's words weren't discontinuous like usual, but fluent like the words of a young man.
Those words sounded just like a confession.
”It's so great to have met you.”
Lilith's eyes turned round. Her lips trembled, looking as if she wanted to say something.
But at the next instant, Volkov rammed into her.
”Ahh!” Lilith made a short shout, falling into the depths of the waterways. I fell in there along with her.
At the last moment when before we fell, I saw a sad glow in Volkov's eyes. Even so, the entrance of the waterways was quickly covered, and the glow vanished.
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