“So, were you able to protect them?”
She already knew it.
“If you could go back in time, do you think you can change the outcome?”
She already knew. So―
“That’s right. You can’t protect anything. Not a single person.”
― please, stop….
“Huuu… huk…”
Everything was as Rajas said. Not just her comrades from back home, but she couldn’t protect the merchants as well. Even if she went back in time, it would have been a repeat. That despair, those tears, she couldn’t stop them.
She could never win against this mazoku. That was right. Never.
It was painful. The cold reality was more cruel than the physical pain. Bitterness of having to hear that she couldn’t do anything. That was the main point.
“Acknowledge it, no, you’ve already started to acknowledge it, didn’t you? About what a pathetic existence you are.”
“I…. I am….”
“It was your fault. All of it. No exceptions. They all died because of you.”
“Ah―”
“Isn’t that right?”
“AH! AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!”
She dropped the sword that was supporting her and all strength went out from underneath her. Arms hung carelessly and shoulders drooped without any strength.
There was no strength left to hold on to the sword.
“......”
“― finally broken?”
A joyous voice that carried a conclusion pierced her body.
That was right. She was broken. There was no more will to fight against Rajas. Everything that was precious to her, all her pride, her body which had everything taken away from; She didn’t care what happened to it.
“Hmph. Now you don’t even have any worth for me to kill you personally. Just like your loved ones before you, it’s fitting that you die after being played around.”
She could see Rajas signal his subordinates after speaking. Several mazokus that were being protected by his dark aura immediately responded to his signal.
At the end of her fading sight, she could see mazokus drawing closer. Racing to be the first one to kill her. What came clearly in her sight were the claws that would rob her life, unkempt appearances, disgusting smiles and malice-filled murky eyes. Everything turned into a slow motion as they drew closer.
“Ah….”
That was what flowed out of her voice.
….. Why was it? Why was her end like this? Was it not enough that everything precious to her was taken away, that she was humiliated and had lost? Did her heart had to be crushed as well? She wanted to live upright so far and lived upright until now.
But it was a mistake. Why was it a mistake? Why did it lead to such a tragic end.
Hope didn’t exist. Then who made the word “hope”? What was the word made for? It didn’t exist anywhere in the world.
That was right. It was useless to chase after a hope. It was useless to cling to it as well. Hope was nothing but a cruel trick to sink humans deeper into a pit of despair. How foolish was she for having believed such a thing existed until now?
What sprouted along with tears was a curse against the world that forced miseries on her. And―
“Someone. Help….”
What came out of her mouth was a desire truly like her. How could she wish for a salvation even after everything turned out like this. There was no way such a miracle existed in this world. Not a single chance, but―
Just as she was about to close her eyes against encroaching darkness, thundering noise passed by her.
Glowing blue lightning blinded her and everything became white. Mazokus that were attacking, sky filled with darkness, everything disappeared. The ruinous earth, Rajas, everything disappeared into the white light.
When the noise and the blinding light died down, all the mazokus that were rushing towards her had disappeared.
She looked around her. Without her noticing, someone gently wiped the warm tears that obscured her vision.
And there stood―
“Who are you?”
Something black fluttered. The one who stood before her was someone she knew. That boy who wore black and gave off a silent aura never seen before was―