Volume 2 Chapter 2 (2/2)

”we have to escape the village before anything else”

”……Okay”

I nodded, but I was soon made to realize that it was next to impossible to escape Urs

The Reiht, were as fast as beasts as they attacked us

We were only weak prey to the both Louie andin their ranks and took great toils to scatter those that drew too close

I stiffened, unable to see any ray of hope in our situation

——What happens if we can't escape?

There was no doubt that I'd be met with the same fate as that wooosebumps across my entire body I would be torn to shreds by the Reims, be robbed of my sanity, and would ultirew ragged I started sweating buckets all over A sense of rejection so strong that I wanted to scream rose up from the depths of my stomach

——I absolutely don't want that!

My fear of beco the woht noas so filled with the desire to soe that I couldn't even care about biting back o that's safe?”

I couldn't get ether I was so scared I couldn't think!

”——Hibiki, please listen to me”

My shoulders jerked when I suddenly heard Louie's low and collected voice

For a ht that he'd noticed the cowardly thoughts that were hidden in the depths of my heart and paled

I didn't answer hie to check for sure I felt Louie stir frole-mindedly curled up into et off froht?”

His voice was close enough that I could feel his lips on my ear His soft breaths tickled o”

I froze up at his words

——He's planning on being the decoy again!

Soh rabbed the arm Louie had wrapped around o!”

I could feel hirow troubled

I bit down at my lip so hard I tasted blood I quietly peered into my own heart I want someone to save me, I don't want to die…… It was so filled with pitch black feelings colored by fear that it was leaking

That's right, what I was afraid of wasn't that Louie would be slaughtered

I——was afraid that I would be left alone

I didn't stop him purely because I orried for him, I stopped him because I didn't want to be left alone in the midst of all these monsters after he sacrificed himself to be a decoy I learned the full extent of s and despaired

I had trampled all over Louie's sincerity for my own self-pity

I opened my eyes wide I felt that, amidst all of these hideous Reis were an act of treachery against Louie

”Was I……always someone like this?”

It was like all of the cowardly feelings inside ofuncovered for all to see one after another ever since I'd come to this world Like the time in the interworld forest Or like the time with the insects just the other day

My hand, which refused to let go of its tight grip on Louie's arm, was so wretched to me that it hurt to breathe

”Louie”

——But even still, I don't wanna be alone I don't want to leave Louie alone, either

”Hibiki, I want you to let go of me”

I silently shook o, I won't let us get separated

If I really left Louie here to die, I'd be no better than a brute

”It's okay, we'll escape this”

I wouldn't be able to stay calm if I didn't believe it

Every possible path we could have taken had been sealed off by the Reims At this rate, we'd be captured before we could leave the village no ile Eru was

Eru jumped on top of the branches of a thick tree at the end of the road as a last resort

All of its leaves had fallen off, leaving only the bare, dry branches behind The tree was conveniently shaped like the pal up to the heavens Also, the branches were quite low

I'ap measure at best, but didn't have any other choice but to take refuge here We were in thatup after us before long at this rate We don't have any path to retreat to”

My shoulders shook at Louie's words

Eru, as carrying us, was rested on the branches in a pretty uncomfortable manner There really wasn't any way to escape!

”——I don't know if it'll work, but…”

”……Huh?”

I turned around, unable to grasp what he was talking about, to see Louie pull soe that was fastened to Eru's body

”What's that?”

In his hands was a mysteriousobthat was cut like a jewel It was about the size of a baseball There was an aqua fla at the center of the translucent orb

”It's a ritual tool I discovered it while ere searching through the buildings earlier”

Louie threw the ritual tool at the Rei on the road as soon as the words left his mouth

The moment that the ritual tool fell on top of the Reih the area

Aqua flames immediately spread out fro……, this will save us, won't it!?”

A simplistic cheer of joy rose up from my heart

I was so sure that ould be saved

I was soonwas

The Reie aqua fla away

”——Why?”

They were laughing

As if they were si enough after all”

Louie's chagrined words fell onone after another They were sto their feet furiously……to stamp out the flames

Maybe we could have expected a better result if the flaer

But flames that only spread this far would only be able to hold back the Reims for a minute, maybe two It would be difficult to chase therasped Eru's htly with my sweaty hands and desperately tried to think of another plan

I saw the state of the village for athe earth

I'd already knohat to expect, but the couldn't help but be overwhel about everywhere in the night that only continued to grow darker

”Maybe's it'd be better if we got down and ran while they're still being even slightly held back……”

”It's too dangerous We can only distract the Reie of the flames”

”Are there still more of the ritual tool left?”

After a brief moment, Louie answered that there were two in a low voice I closed h There were only two It wasn't nearly enough for us to escape with

”Is there nothing else we could use?”

If I recalled correctly, Louie had packed various tools that I couldn't deter through the houses Our shi+eld of flaure out so soon, we'll…”

”Hibiki”

I started to move on top of Eru and forced age Louie supported me in a hurry so that I wouldn't fall off as I squirmed about

It was possible to face the Reims if we used the divine sword But that was only the case if I was as good as wielding a sword as Louie was

All I could do really was to swing it around with allnormal tiht nohen all I could feel was hesitation and fear

I wanted to pull at my hair because of all the uneasiness and irritation that was piling up inside ination

——I have to hurry up and figure out a way to escape!

I chaotically ru that ht be useful……!?”

I had no idea hat My head and my heart were aabout the stuff frorew stronger and I wanted to cry out loud

Louie diffidently inally been in front of him

”I——will do as you desire”

”……Huh?”

Louie's voice sounded gentle even in this extreme life-or-death situation

I furrowed my brows because I didn't understand what he'd meant

”If you wish to prioritize your mission, I will create a path for you”

Louie's eyes were clear in the light fro atdear

”I will open a path of blood for you to escape through I will never let you fall prey to the Reims”

”I said that you can't do that! I told you that you can't juer all by yourself”

Please, don't make me more of a coward than I already a that you intend to stay withrant h that it was almost lost in the Reims' cries

”My end……?”

He nodded when I parroted his words back at hian to h they were offering me a confession

”Your death, as a person”

Oh, I thought

”Are you saying we should……kill ourselves?”

——No, Louie means to kill me first

The inside of my head hite when I realized what Louie had resolved himself to do I asked,

”……if we end our lives while we're still human, on't have to be tormented by the Reims And we also won't have to become one of theer have enough time left to escape But, we still have time to protect the liberty of our souls”

I hadn't even realized that this was a choice we could s that I couldn't put into words began to grow in ulped audibly, to hold back the irowled in low indignation as if he had understood what Louie had said

To be honest, his suggestion tugged at my heart just a little bit

”Wait, Louie, that's…”

”……We don't have the time to worry over it”

”Wait”

I shook my head in a panic

I didn't knohy But the choice of dying didn't really click with ent situation like now

I couldn't i no matter how hard I tried

The reason that I had been tempted a bit just noas a hopelessly pathetic one It was only because my heart had been unfairly relieved at the possibility that I would be able to turn a blind eye to the fear and suffering I would face from now on That was the only reason why

”I won't allow you to suffer You won't even feel the pain”

”Louie”

”It will be over soon Please entrust yourself toIt didn't look like he was speaking recklessly The glint of reason was still shi+ning properly in his eyes

I' serious as he said this He holeheartedly trying to protect my soul

——I can't let you do that

Louie was probablyabout me He had undoubtedly overestis he harbored for me due to the unusual e'dhts born fro the noble Louie intoto let hi on taking your own life too, Louie?”

I didn't even need to ask But if he did this, the sins that Louie would have to bear would double

The sin of killinghimself

I was the one who had , and my weakness had made hi?!

I grit my teeth as hard as I could and closed ain quickly afterward I looked at the nightmarish reality that spread out before me as far as I could see Beyond all doubt, this was my reality

”Please, Hibiki Grant e hand wrapped around my waist

His hand, which was always covered in blood A shadow clouded his eyes every ti his own heart all the time until now

His life wasn't dear to hi to savehis heart like this as well

”Louie……you can't do that”

I'll protect hireat if I could protect him even more than he protects me

”Hibiki”

”We proer, you know?”

”If we get hurt, we'll both carry half the scars We'll share the pain and hardshi+ps too…… We aren't alone We're here together, just like this”

I took in a deep breath and simultaneously sed down le sensitively for some reason

”We'll escape,”

I voith all the strength I could muster

”I absolutely won't let you die, and I won't die either We'll survive this without fail”

I'll put off thinking about everything else for later

”For now, our only goal is to get out of Urs safely”

I changed ers brushed upon a pouch that sounded like it had water in it

Water It was the water we had found while scavenging the buildings

”That's right! I should have that withoff the side of the luggage It was the bag that I had brought over froht it withon

”Here it is!”

It was a shter

It was in et Uncle Miharu, as a heavy s My uncle had declared that he'd quit a long tio, but he always said he'd only have just one

”……Sorry, Uncle”

I'd secretly snuck out the lighter froht before I'd left the ryokan in a hurry

Yes, at the ryokan in Saru out, Hibiki?” I'd panicked because I thought that he'd seen hter and made up some random excuse on the fly Then, I'd left Uncle Miharu in the room and went outside on my own Never in my dreams did I think that our brief conversation would be the last time I'd see him

”What in the world…?”

I turned to the puzzled Louie and beamed

”Louie, can you holdto do?”

I held both the lighter and the pouch of water as I slowly kneeled on Eru's back

Louiecooperative, too, andSorry for using you like a stool, Eru

I gathered round The ritual tool that Louie had thrown earlier had loststaan to press in to attack us

”It's okay, I'm sure it'll work I'll chase the to hypnotize hter with a click I opened the waterskin as well

Theoretically, I was doing the sa that I'd done when I'd healed Louie froave me power I'm a part of their households”

Olin, the God of war, and Silvai, a priures in ured out how to properly use the power they'd given overned over wind and the atmosphere

He'd said that my name, 'Hibiki', shared camaraderie with the atmosphere and was therefore affiliated with him

——Lend me your power, okay, Silvai?

Mine was er in my mouth and bit down on it hard

”——O, that hurts!”

I'd bitten er, and the pain of it still s were a bit on the sharper side, you see I'd accidentally bittenand cried out in pain on multiple occasions in the past

”Hibiki! What are you…!?”

I ignored Louie's exclaer out of my mouth

Red blood dribbled out of it when I did

”What are you doing to yourself?!”

”I, I'm okay!”

The taste of blood spread across the inside of ri red fro pain flashed through er for aon trying so tremendously crazy

The blood of a saint

I'd seen so

Like how the cup that held Christ's blood became known as the Holy Grail, for example Blood was used as a symbol for the holy

Naturally, I htest

But, I'd just so happened to receive power from Silvai and Olin and had becoh I was still human, apparently

I' behind their words assus of the Gods were dwelling withinwithin my blood, that is

But I'd actually been able to successfully purify the insect's poison

”Please turn into holy water!”

”——Holy water……?”

I sht up the waterskin and pressed it up against my forehead I want the wind to stir up Please let it boost what I'm about to do Please, Silvai

I heard Louie call out orously down at the Rei a ball at theotten very far

But it looked like my prayers had been answered

The water, which I had thrown pouch and all, drew glittering arcs of light as it scattered into the athter

”Lend th, Uncle Miharu”

I looked at the tiny flaure of Uncle Miharu, as in a different world from this one My uncle, as a heavy smoker, a secret railwayelse in the world Let's go on an adventure, Hibiki……, his cheerful voice echoed in hter whenever I was hurting I want to see hiain one day with a smile on my face, so I can't let myself die here!

”Please, pave us a path!”

I poured all of hter as I threw it

The small flame ed into the crowd of Reims without a sound

It happened immediately afterward Vivid blue pillars of fire rose up froround one after the other

”What!?”

Louie gulped and stared fixedly at the ground

The fire frohter I'd thrown had apparently reacted with the water soaking the Reiasoline

”This is……!?”

Louie pressed me into his arms as if by instinct

A Reiradually spread out to the other Reims around it Maybe it was better to say that they were bursts of light with the intensity of fireworks, rather than to siround hadn't been burnt at all The greedy fire burned only the Reirew anxious, though I didn't knohy I felt like these flames were much more violent than the flames from the tool had been

The pillars of fire refused to extinguish no ainst the to the besieged Reims like ivy

”I didn'tI sed the rest ofcurses echoed around us Their voices of resent reverberated endlessly Their voices overlapped and spiraled like a tornado

The sight of the writhing Reims made for a picture of hell that frozehaphazardly like puppets whose strings had been cut

The Rei off their skin like acid, causing it to froth and fall to the ground, conta it black

”Terrible”

Louie's horrified h my heart

I only wanted to keep the Reims away for a little while, to open up a path for us to survive

The Reian to flee the area

And yet, the merciless blue fire chased after the Reims as if it had a mind of its own and ht that this would happen

I had never even anticipated that the effects could ever be this strong

I openedin confusion

”The Reims, they're in pain”

This was a result that I ht about, and yet I couldn't help but be afraid of it

The enoriven me far exceeded my tiny heart's capacity for it, so far, in fact, that I wouldn't be forgiven if I wielded it recklessly I'd only begun to understand this now

In that case, it was possible that I'd bring about soruesome just based on ht now

”Settle down already”

Please I felt like this scene was the Gods' way of punishi+ng me

Now that I mentioned it, Olin had seemed sad too He'd said that if the Gods were reckless, their divine authority would cause more distortions in the world And yet, I'd received their power

Thanks to this, Olin and Silvai were judged by the commandments of the Gods But froerous enough that whoever used it had to be punished iround against Fortune's successor at all if I didn't wield such an enorure of the person who had pulled me into this mysterious fate The mask that had covered half of their face The many, many cynical words they'd uttered

——Why did you try to destroy this world?

The pillars of flame continued to flare up without pause

Would they not rest until every last Reim had been burnt down?

To resurrect the people and the earth Olin had warned me so many times that it wouldn't be an easy feat, but I hadn't coht of his words at all

”How is this possible……?”

I ca Louie's dazed voice It wasn't the ti out

”Louie, Eru, let's escape nohile we can!”

I sat back down on Eru's back in a hurry and urged Louie, as frozen in place

Just then, I saw Louie's stiff face as he looked back at ht in my chest

There was true fear reflected clearly in his eyes

I couldn't tell if it was the thing called ”awe” or if it was pure, genuine fear Either way, it was clear to s were directed to me, who had created this scene

……At the very least, his eyes weren't looking at so he considered huan to believe inthe Gods just now

A sharp pain passed through my chest

——Put it all away for later I can think about whatever I want to after we get out of here safely

”Eru, hurry!”

Eru shook his mane as if to say he understood after I shook away e leap

I felt weightless for a moment Eru, with Louie andin the flames and landed in an open space

I couldn't tell which direction was south In any case, Eru ran in the direction with the least number of Reims There were ot fro to attack us, but the Rei away from the fire that they didn't have the leisure to care about us They didn't chase after us even e passed right next to theh the Reims

And so, ere able to e of Urs

Eru, ere riding on, ran toward a forest that was far away from Urs

I wonder how far we've traveled? I was pretty sure we'd placed enough distance between us and the Reiroup of trees that looked like we could hide ourselves in We decided to rest our bodies there until dawn

”Hibiki”

After I sat down to rest on the dried earth

Louie, looking a little anxious, gave me a thick robe to use in place of a blanket

I soed to smile back at hi?”

”Mm, I'm fine”

I donned a mask of serenity and answered in my normal voice I wrapped the robe aroundnext toainst led his nose when I stroked his aze on me, and it was the best I could do to look away and pretend I didn't notice

I wasn't able to look him in the eye anytis he wanted to talk to me and ask me about I could feel it

But I also felt that he, too, was fervently holding back so would change if he was too hasty with his words

Words, once spoken, could never be taken back no retted them

I counted in s wouldn't run raently took my hand away from Eru and peered at Louie Our eyes met only for a second before he looked down, bewildered, and aardly added wood to the campfire so that the fire wouldn't die out

”Are you hurt anywhere, Louie?”

”——I am not”

”Okay”

Our conversation dwindled down,cautious, and started to becoet a little sleep”

I snuggled up in rest against Eru's abdomen in order to clumsily end the conversation Eru cooed in a lonely manner numerous times

……I can't move yet It'll look unnatural if I don't hold it in a little longer

”Hibiki”

”Oh, Eru, I have to give you water before we go to sleep You're tired, aren't you?”

I got up, crawled out of the robe I'd been using as a blanket, and took out the plastic water bottle fro I poured so his tail around restlessly

”I'otten ahold of like that……earlier”

I looked blankly over at Eru, who approached the water inhis nose, as I spoke

I could feel Louie's nervousness As I'd expected, he looked like he was struggling to keep his emotions in check when I slowly looked over to him

”That's——”

”How much water do we have left?”

I asked quickly, and, for a single e look on Louie's face almost as if he'd been hurt He proan to check through the luggage

”We have two et to the teht……but I suppose ill have to ht He continued,

”though, it looks like we'll be good on food”

”I see It'd be nice if we could get our hands on sohed as I spoke Eru didn't drinkhiave him some of the food that looked like raisins He ate it readily

”Do you knohere we are?”

”I believe we are most likely somewhere to the southwest of Urs”

It looked like we'd strayed a little from the route to our destination, Lavann He continued,

”we'll have to ht detour, but I don't believe that it'll be a cause for concern”

”Oh, okay”

Louie had begun to speak forain, but I didn't have it in me to point it out This wasn't only because I could ——but also because I was feeling strangely exhausted

My body felt heavy, and I felt like ht down into the darkness if I didn't keep my stomach clenched I had to keep focus

I felt Louie look atto reat pains to sound normal as I threw a couple of questions about Lavann at hi toh yet?

”……Erm, I'll be back soon, okay?”

Louie stared at ot up and said this

”Um, you can't follow me, okay?”

I said in a purposefully troubled voice as I pretended to be eehio to the bathroom

As usual, Louie read between the lines and had an indescribable look on his face, as if he was flustered or panicking

He was a serious person, so, as long as I said so like this, he wouldn't follow afterwas off about my behavior

”I'll be back soon I'll screa suspicious”

I added, as I always did I acted as normally as I possibly could

I turned my back to Louie, who looked dismayed, and deliberately stared hard into Eru's round eyes

Please, make sure Louie doesn't come close to ets suspicious and starts

Eru was really s He cried out sorrowfully and restlessly lowered hietting away froh distance between us

I'd stopped at a place where strangely shaped trees were growing out of balance Old dead leaves were piled up here and there like pinecones, and the trees' branches were pluave off a round impression overall

Their trunks were also elliptical and even fatter than their branches,them the perfect shape to hide behind

I let the tension leave ainst a dried tree trunk I took out a cloth the size of a face towel that I'd snuck into breast pocket

I blinked multiple times as I slowly crouched down and retched soundlessly with the cloth at ht that my stomach would turn inside-out and broke out into a cold sweat

It beca was squeezing down on ularly I sht hear me if I didn't keep the cloth over my mouth

——I killed them!!

My screaravity sank

I ers who used to be hu of the consequences, and it had brought about a merciless reality My consciousness was suddenly stained black

It wasn't even as if I'd cut them down in earnest The Reims had been burned and melted by the blue fire!

”What do I……!!”

——I'm sure I won't be able to revive them anymore, will I!?

”I……, what have I……!”

I'd sacrificed those people for my own sake

Just so I could survive!

And yet here I was, completely unharmed I could see, I could breathe, I could s I was as alive as I always have been I was here looking cole sacrifice

”U, urgh……”

Violent nausea rose up within ain I pressed down atout

How many Reims had been there?

And, how many had burst into pillars of flame? Just how many residents of Urs had the ruthless blue flames burnt into oblivion?

——I've crushed a lot of human lives

Lies, this can't be real!!

My body was treh it had been broken

I murdered them I killed so, so many people It's a lie, someone please help me

”No, I never meant for it to happen! I only wanted to chase theh time to escape, I never wanted to hurt them……!!”

I didn't know, but that wouldn't cut it

Even if I couldn't have predicted the results at all——it was so I'd done with my own hands, of my own volition

Pain that hurt so ony spread across ed I suppressed the urge to screa ht break Sweat poured down my neck like tears

——Someone help ain, I, I, somebody…!”

No, I don't want to believe it Did I really kill a bunch of people who'd done nothing wrong? Someone please answer me Tell me it isn't true!!

”……!!……!”

——Don't you dare cry!

I can't, if I cry, my eyes will swell up and Louie'll definitely notice I can't cry If I do, then I'll beLouie, who's already scarred all over, shoulder everything again He always tries to protect me no matter what

……But…!

”——I'rabbed at my hair with both hands I had murdered them My words and my sins burrowed deep into my body I felt like I'd explode

”I, I don't know, I don't know……!”

My fingers, which had been grabbing at my hair, slid over ers and saw an illusion The burning Rei They were screa me why I'd murdered the black tears as they writhed, reached out for me, burned, and melted

They asked me what they'd ever done to deserve this Hadn't I come here to save them?

They asked me why they had to be killed——!

——Stop don't look at ive iven There was no way I would be I'd stolen their futures I'd burnt up their lives All for htered them I murdered so many people just so I could escape——

My consciousness blurred and I was assaulted by violent nausea once again There was nothing left in me to throw up But, it wasn't like I could let the sound ofcarelessly slip out What do I do?

”……Mhburied under the Rei pierced by their voices that conde terrible; what can I do? I was the one who did it, and ahh,ripped to shreds by their hatred

——I can't go horeat urge to hurl again I shoved ers down my throat to block out the sound

I had to puke out soastric juice, or I wouldn't be able to hold down this violent urge

Louie will realize so if I'm too loud I don't want hi, forget everything I've done I don't have the right to grieve

That look in Louie's eyes Was it disgust? Awe? Either way, it had been a clear look of rejection What if fear or wrath followed his rejection and he started disparaging me? I wouldn't be able to bear it

My throat hurt like it was breaking apart because I'd forced myself to throw up It was hot It was hot everywhere The stench of gastric fluid My tongue and theapart!

——Uncle Miharu, Mo truly unthinkable

”……I wanted to becoreat I was”

My hopes for being able to go back hoh crumbled away into tiny pieces

”I can't see them anymore I don't kno I'd even face them……”

Why had this happened? I only wanted to make myself useful That's really all I'd wanted

I felt like I could never be allowed to be happy again I'h out loud every again, would I?

I'd never forgive so like that had happened to me It didn't matter if it was on purpose or not There was no way I'd be allowed to be shroud in happiness after doing so

”I only wanted to save everyone, that's why…”

What kind of silly drea? Just what could a nor, ever possibly save?”

There was a limit to how conceited I could be

I desperately pressed ers so hard they turned white in order to keepso heavily

I naturally found myself in a position of prayer On top of that, I even pressed o away I wanted to expel all of the fear and regret that was rising up from inside me

”God, help me…”

The hoarse words slipped out of my mouth before I knew it

A low voice of resent bubbled up from my heart at the saed to hout my body

——But you sacrificed even the Gods

”Oh……”

I fell into a daze The curse that was voiced fro apart

Who else could I pray to——?

All the strength leftwave

I looked down at ether I slowly freed ers one by one

What ae if I do?

I looked around ed even in the tiniest bit The world was dark I couldn't hear the cute chirping of birds or theof streams There only existed the oppressive darkness, as always Only the dying , but I couldn't get out the words

I have to get back to Louie and Eru soon, or they'll start getting suspicious

I stood up as if I was being pulled by an invisible hand I covered upwith it, and swiftly erased all evidence that I'd lost o back”

So in my heart had beco happened here……”

I quietly turned

I didn't quite knohy I was going back I was sile-mindedly inon cushi+ons My world was spinning, too Was ht It was the campfire I saw Louie and Eru next to it

Louie was standing up, probably because he wasn't sure if he should co around restlessly too

Louie made a hard expression the moment he realized I'd returned His beautifulin the made me want to cruone to sleep first You aiting forHe pressed his nose against ht and cried out anxiously

I——

A s one consciously

Eru's fur felt nice on ently buried et some sleep”

”——Yeah”

I didn't have the leisure to worry about Louie and Eru I pulled the robe I was using as a blanket over my head, curled up into a ball, and fell into a deep sleep that was like falling into a dark hole

I had a terrifying night behind my dream, and the scene I saas undoubtedly a projection of reality

A s and trees of the village of Urs——

↑ Rokurokubi: A monster from japanese folklore that takes the appearance of a person, usually a wo neck that can expand and contract