Arifureta Vol 4 Chapter 7 (2/2)

“Boss! I am sorry to come back empty-handed! There is something that I must report! Permission to speak!”

“O-ou? What is it?”

At boy’s veteran soldier-like atmosphere, even though it’s too late, Hajime thought s.h.i.+a was right, and that it was a little too much. And then he stuttered a little. The boy continued his report without a care.

“Affirmative! Problem found while pursuing demonic beasts, I discovered a group of fully-armed Bearman tribe. The place was on the route to the Great Tree. Perhaps they thought to ambush us!”

“A~, they’ve come as expected. Although I thought they’d come immediately… … I see, they wanted to crush us in front of our goal huh. It was a somewhat good demeanor. … … then?”

“Affirmative! If it’s okay, how about leaving those guys to us, Haulia!”

“We~ll. How about it, Kam? Do you have anything to say?”

Having heard that, Kam was shaken, and since it was something he wished for he began to grin with a fearless smile then nodded.

“By all means, leave it to us. Our power, we wanted to know… … how far our power has come, compared to them. Wha~t, it’s not like we will show anything disgraceful.”

Having heard their chief’s words, the surrounding Haulia tribe, all of them, showed belligerent expressions. The number of people who called their weapons by name with increasing admiration could be felt. s.h.i.+a’s expression was dyed with despair.

“… … Can you do it?”

“Affirmative!”

The one who cheerfully answered Hajime’s last confirmation was the boy. Hajime once again closed his eyes then breathed deeply and ‘Ka’ opened his eyes wide.

“Hear me! Everyone from Haulia tribe! Every one of you brave and resolute warriors! Today, you’re graduated from being s.h.i.+tty maggots! You are no longer the worthless existence to be weeded out! Crush unjustness with power, hold down those hostilities with wisdom! O strongest warriors! Teach those bears “bleep” for inciting our resentment by bringing us to our current situation! Those guys are nothing but redundant stepping stones! They are only “bleep”! Build mountains with their corpses, and rivers with their blood, as proof! The proof of your rebirth! The proof to everyone in the Sea of Trees, to show that the Haulia tribe is reborn!”

“””””””””” Sir, yes, Sir!!””””””””””

“Answer me! Everyone! The greatest and strongest warriors! What is it that you wish for!”

“””””””””” Kill them!! Kill them! Kill them!!””””””””””

“What is your specialty!”

“””””””””” Kill!! Kill!! Kill!!””””””””””

“If there are enemies what will you do!”

“””””””””” Kill them all!! Kill them all!! Kill them all!!””””””””””

“That’s right! Kill them all! You can do it! Take the right to live with your own hands!”

“””””””””” Aye, aye, Sir!!””””””””””

“That’s the spirit! Everyone of the Haulia tribe! I only have one order! Search & destroy! Go!!”

“””””””””” YAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!””””””””””

“Uwaa~n, all the members of my family are dead after all~”

Under Hajime’s command, the Haulia tribe members’ fierceness returned and they disappeared into the fog. The tribe which was once gentle, peaceful, and above all weak at fighting… … where have they gone? That was the only thing she could say. Having seen her family completely change once more, while collapsing s.h.i.+a’s vain cry echoed in the Sea of Trees. As expected, because she couldn’t stand it anymore, Yue patted and stroked s.h.i.+a’s head to comfort her.

When the boy beside s.h.i.+a, who ‘hic”hic’ ‘sob”sob’ cried, tried to go, he was called to a stop by s.h.i.+a.

“Pal-kun! Please wait! L-look, don’t you see a beautiful flower-san over here? Even if you don’t go… … how about you wait here with onee-chan? Okay? How about it?

Apparently, she seems to be trying to at least bring this little boy back to his former self. She pointed at the beautifully blossoming flowers while desperately trying to persuade him. The reason she used a flower was because this boy loved flowers so much that he even said “Flower-sa~n” before.

The flower boy named Pal who was called out to stop by s.h.i.+a, only ‘yare yare daze’ shook his head and shrugged his shoulders while sighing “Fuu~”. It looked like the overreactions used by the Europeans and Americans.

“Anego, please don’t open up my old wound. I’ve already gotten rid of my past. The weak mind that enjoyed the beauty of flowers is no more”

By the way, this boy called Pal is 11 years old this year.

“O-old wound? Get rid of your past? Wait, I don’t understand, but do you mean you don’t like flowers anymore?”

“Yes, I have thrown away those feelings along with my past”

“That, even though you loved them so much…”

“Fuh, it was just a mistake of youth”

I repeat, Pal-kun is 11 years old this year.

“More importantly, anego”

“W-what is it?”

Having seen the changes in the boy who had sometimes picked flowers and dearly called out “s.h.i.+a-oneechan! s.h.i.+a-oneechan!”, s.h.i.+a’s consciousness started to escape reality. She was barely able to reply to Pal’s words. However, it became the signal for her to further her pursuit (of escapism).

“I’ve also thrown away my weak name along with the past. Now my name is Baltoferd. From now on please call me “Baltoferd of Certain Death””

“Who was that!? Where did that Baltoferd come from!? Rather, what’s with certain death!?”

“Oh, sorry. My comrades are waiting so it’s my time to go. Well then!”

“A, hey! What do you mean by “well then!”! Even now, our talk is still eh, fast! Wait! Please wait~”

Just like a woman that was left behind by her lover, s.h.i.+a collapsed while her hand tried to reach the other side of the fog. No one answered her, this girl’s family, all of them fiercely went to the battlefield. s.h.i.+a who was gakkuri drooped, once again hic hic cried. The family that this girl once knew was no more. It was truly a pitiful sight.

s.h.i.+a’s appearance was seen by Yue who wore a subtle expression because she couldn’t say anything to her. Hajime who felt it was somewhat awkward let his gaze wander. Yue’s gaze turned to Hajime then bluntly muttered.

“… … as expected of Hajime, to be able to calmly accomplish something no one can”

“Well, like I said before where did you get that material…”

“… … to be able to use that dark magic, brainwash… … amazing”

“… … honestly, I think it was a little too much. Even though there’s neither reflection nor regret”

For a while, in the place left behind by the Haulia tribe, s.h.i.+a’s crying voice and subtle atmosphere hung in the air.

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