827 Live as a human, die as a human (1/2)
Seiji didn't die.
For an instant, he thought that he was truly about to die. Only after everything settled down did he figure out why his life-saving ability hadn't activated.
That was because the giant claws had precisely managed to avoid him! [Bullet Time] would only automatically activate when he was in danger.
”Koutarou…”
Seiji didn't feel that this was an accident.
Such an accident would be impossible.
In that case, there was only one possible answer...
”Why didn't you kill me?” Seiji asked the coal seller.
Koutarou still had a look of hatred on his face. His face was distorted, and he was filled with killing intent. Yet, blood-red tears ran down from his eyes.
And then he clutched at his head, beginning to roar… no, cry! The demonic figure behind him became furiously agitated.
Seiji could only quietly watch.
All the giant claws transformed into mist and dissipated.
The mist in the entire area became even denser, to the point where the shrine was becoming difficult to see… No, the shrine itself was also transforming into mist!
This entire world was collapsing.
Apart from Seiji and the demonic Koutarou, it appeared to Seiji that not a single other existence was left in this world anymore.
Seiji noticed that Kungo's body, which should have still been inside the shrine, had disappeared as well.
Had he disappeared into mist, or…
No matter what, everything was now ending.
Seiji walked over to the coal seller who was crying tears of utter sadness.
”Koutarou…” Seiji called out the coal seller's name. Seiji then went up close, opened up his arms, and slowly hugged Koutarou.
”Harano… why…” Koutarou didn't reject Seiji's embrace. Instead, he kept crying as he asked a question. ”Why… did everything become like this…”
'Why did my mother and younger brother die?
'Why did my younger sister turn into a demon?
'Why… why is it necessary to kill?'
Koutarou couldn't understand.
Although he felt that the beautiful woman from earlier wasn't lying to him, he still didn't understand.
This Harano person… didn't seem in the slightest bit like an evil demon to Koutarou!!
'If this Harano is an evil demon, then what am I?
'What is a demon? What is a human? Why do humans turn into demons? Why would a demon seem so much like a human?'
Koutarou couldn't understand…
All he wanted was to protect and save his younger sister, yet…
He couldn't bring himself to kill anyone!!!
”I'm sorry…” Seiji could only respond this way. ”I'm truly… so sorry…”
”Wahhhhhhhh!!!!!” Bloody tears poured out from Koutarou's eyes, covering his cheeks.
Right now, he greatly resembled a demon physically. However, Seiji felt that Koutarou's behavior was more human than anyone.
'If there had been any way to, I definitely would have done it. But there was no other way…
'That's why, all I can do is say sorry.
'I'm sorry…
'I'm so sorry…'
”I'm so sorry…” Seiji muttered this out loud as tears also began to stream down his cheeks.
It was impossible to save everyone.
This was logic that he understood already.
However, the bitterness from facing such logic directly would still hit him with full impact.
Even though he had the supremely powerful ability of saving and loading, there would still be things that he couldn't accomplish.
Even if he had an even more powerful ability than saving and loading, there would still be things that he would be even more helpless about.
So, all he could do at the very least would be...
”I will remember you. Koutarou… I will remember your name for the rest of my life. I will remember that you were a kind coal seller. I will never forget you… until I die.”
That was all he could do for Koutarou.
This truly… was all he could do.
”Harano…”
Koutarou was not consoled by this.
It was impossible for him to be consoled right now.
However… maybe just a tiny bit, but he did feel a tiny amount of warmth.
He didn't want to die. He still wanted to save his younger sister. Koutarou absolutely didn't want to die. He felt incredibly pained about the helpless dead end situation he was in!