Seirei no Moribito

"Leo, why are you here... no, what the hell are you doing!!"

It was the mayor of the village who raised his voice first against the unexpected intruders.

The village chief apparently pulled out the short knife he had hidden, and the sound of metal slipping spread like ripples,

"You! I know what this place is! On the occasion of the sacred ritual, why did you show up, state your reasons!!"

Dear village chief, who releases himself as if he were dealing with a hatred and asks him.

He is:

"... I'm sorry, Master Murakami. I am responsible for any intrusion into the ritual of the“ witch "."

Arrange words somewhere with unemotional voices,

"... but I really... would like to speak to" The Witch ”. The fate of this village must not be determined by my own judgment… it is an important matter."

"Important, case...? Are you kidding me?

I don't know what “that thing” is about... but apparently, it's a big problem between him and the village chief.

"Leo... I told you you had no such right. Have you forgotten that?

"No. It's just that I... just came to fulfill my promise to" everyone ”. Is that what you're saying is inconvenient?

"Oh yeah! It's not convenient for you to be here! Say it again, Leo. Leave this place now. Otherwise, I'll kill you. And... you don't have rights."

... What the hell are you two arguing about...?

A cold voice with no emotions and a long emotion echoed,

"- Master Murakami, what am I mistaken for?

... Oh, he... he won.

I heard a slight “rainbow wing” breathing. Yes, this surface, which is not like his usual serenity, is cold... and his expression, hidden in the depths of contempt, even though he is grinning... is tremendous, he feels fear. I know I'm being looked down on, but I'm not disgusted. If you defy it slightly - because you know painfully what happens in the next moment.

And to him who puts this cold smile on his face and pushes his emotions to death... nobody, can beat him. Whether that's the mayor of the village who can do any evil brake flat.

Even that conflict seven years ago didn't give such a fine dust expression. When he exposes this nature... a manifestation of his kindness.

Because it is a silent declaration of victory that we will make it easier for you without resorting to violence.

Now I have no idea the look on his face or that of the village chief...... but I can see it. Even if you're just asking, the freezing air dominates the village chief, and there's a confusing structure.

"... Leo, are you... ugh"

"Dear village chief. What I'm asking you to do now is to take the time of the village chief. More than just a" witch ”, more than a“ tribute "… what do you think you can do to something that doesn't even have power or human rights?

It was only this time that the village chief was completely swallowed by the word "object” that came out of his mouth. No way, I guess he didn't think that about me. Neither did I. I didn't think he would.

To Zukin's slightly painful heart, but I wondered why he wanted to talk to me...

"... Again, I ask the village chief. Please, could I have your time? [M] I really... want to tell you something, Witch."

The early morning cold air also enveloped the atmosphere that dominated the field.

"... but..."

In the silent pressure of a spiritual assault, the village chief muttered his disagreement in a voiceless voice,

"- Okay."

The Wings of the Rainbow, which had previously decided to sideline, won or lost this battle.

"You were one of the many guardians of the Spirit Forest a week ago."... but if you were a "spiritual lover” with the protection of "Yfried", would it be easier to kick it to that extent? - What's your first name, sir?

"… my name is Leo, and I inherited the family name of Travis"

"... Leo Travis... I didn't expect a" spiritual lover ”from that“ Travis. "

“Rainbow Wings," whined some funny words,

"… I will grant you a“ five minute "respite in the face of your technology. But leave that blade there."

"... thank you for your generosity."

As ever, with a pale voice, he said, the sound of two swords mounted in the sheath being quietly superimposed.

- And,

"... finally, I think we can talk."

He spoke so in front of me.

Don't make him feel dusty like he's laughing or chilling earlier, go back to the usual at all.

By contrast, my face was stretched.... I missed him, but I didn't want to see him, in front of him like that... because I didn't know what to say but what look to give him.

That's me, but he pretended not to notice at all,

"... you told the village chief? Keep me away from the company... I just wanted to ask you a few questions and you waited a week."

I could tell from the voice. As usual, with a gentle, gentle grin... he said he must be purely telling the truth.

But now... I didn't want to hear his voice like that.

So I say, making as flat and uninteresting a voice as I can, with obvious rejection.

"... what are you here to ask?

A voice that exposed vigilance, like the first time we met. No matter how poorly I guess...... yeah, he would definitely realize that I don't want to talk to him in my current attitude.

And yet he sees through my “pretenses” like that,

"Don't you regret it?

I kept telling myself - I let go of words that would break it head-on.

"This is the best course of action,“ Witch ”Laura... the village is saved at the expense of one of her.... Are you sure you don't regret such a choice?

... I couldn't answer.

I've always wondered if there was another better way, or if I could have made a different choice... because I've been thinking about it.

Because I've sacrificed a lot of people so far. So now it's my turn to sacrifice.

This is a good way, because I couldn't do anything other than this... yes, I've been telling you...

"Hey, Laura. Are you sure this is okay?

... How could you,

"Do you think that's the right way to save the village at someone's expense? Don't you ever think about what you've been doing and now put it in your head?

... now you hang these words?

"It's stupid that this is the best thing to do... are you admitting it?

... Finally, at a time like this, I was determined to do it...

- Answer me, Laura.

... why, with the same kindness as usual... are you trying to make me say the answer that is decided? Why would you ask me that? I'm trying to tell you I'm here for that!?

... so I didn't want to see you.

... I was afraid I was going to cry when I met Leo, so I hoped you wouldn't come...!

Why, why...

... In the end, I couldn't answer anything.

Seeing how I was, he smiled quietly,

- I don't think there must be a life saved by sacrifice.

I started talking abruptly.

"... I abandoned my hometown. A people thriving by a" sacrifice ”in the name of“ tools "or... that place that is stupid everywhere you don't look at yourself and just repeat your mistakes... I hated it so much that I got out of that town. I left my dear brother because I thought he was just like them."

Just say it in a mixed voice of loneliness somewhere.

"But, you know, that's an excuse in the end. I just didn't want to do what I wanted. [M] I pushed the cause into the place and the environment... and put my brother in my place, and I ran away. If you change your mind, I sacrificed my brother. Irrational reality... all this happened to me because I had a brother. Because my brother was a heretic, he made me a heretic, too."

to him speaking in a self-derisive manner,

"... Shh..."

I didn't think so and returned a reply.

'Cause that's not true... he didn't even give out fine dust.

Even my dear brother, though I don't think the same as myself... I told you.

"... that's how... you thought?... only one, even my brother... I was laughing...?

"... that's right. Ever since my brother was recognized around, huh? Since then... I couldn't help but hate my brother. There's nothing wrong with my behavior, but there's nothing to be admitted. Yet my brother... is admitted to doing anything. Even if you behaved the same way I did. I couldn't forgive such irrationality. [M] I didn't blame my brother for one thing... but I decided to blame my brother, and I hated him unilaterally."

... I didn't know. Until now, I can't believe Leo... had that thought...

"You're an idiot, aren't you, me? I really just had a bad environment around me... resented myself and took advantage of my brother's favor... and made a" sacrifice ”for me to escape.... Most of all, maybe my brother noticed. What I hate... what I hate. Still, he sent me out worried. He knew it all... and he cared about me."

"... when did you notice? I was wrong."

"... right. Thoughtfully... I didn't like Laura at first."

... Huh?

"The reason is simple and so unreasonable. Laura had everything I didn't have. Unlike me, who blames others for the frustration she can't admit to doing anything, Laura can act purely caring for others. Even now, Laura is acting for the village. I was dazzled by Laura like that... and at the same time, I wanted to do it as a crash. I wanted to taste the despair I tasted."

... really, I... didn't know anything about him... I can't believe I thought that... I didn't even notice the fine dust.

"Back then, I really didn't care about the inheritance of this village or malice or anything in my heart. I was dependent on the Spirit, and I didn't take on the favor of" Ifried, "I just used it to come to this village. Same reason for the little play to stay in the village.... Well, it's a shallow idea and I think it would be great to look back. These right eyes deserved it in that sense."

I was convinced of that. You told me it wasn't my fault. If I knew there was something behind it that came from my disgust with myself.

But he... how did he realize his mistake?

"... thin, I never noticed. Deceiving my brother, relying on the Spirit, trying to use it even to Laura... but is it really good to do that? Then it's like... I wonder if it's the same with those people."

"... Leo..."

"... it was Laura who made me realize that. It's you."

... Me, me...?

"There was only one decisive difference between me and Laura. That's... not to run away. There was no escape from reality from my situation or fence, even if I had to resist a determined fate. Instead of giving up and stopping you from running away, admit it and keep fighting it. When I saw him, I realized for the first time that I had made the same mistake as them."

Apparently he also figured out that he had a strange look on his face.

to his warm grin transmitted over the bandage,

"At some point I even“ sacrificed ”myself. It was the same with Laura. Laura's not like me. She's kind. It's because I can think of others from the bottom of my heart... that I'm second to none."

He took my hands and held them in natural motion.

"Niña said so, too." Laura sacrifices herself everywhere. Even if we grieve as a result... she still sacrifices herself. But I know with my own hands that the sacrifice will only result in tragedy. So - I don't want to repeat that tragedy. "

There was time by the next word.

Slowly, he...

"- So I want to hear it.... What do you think... Laura?