Pale, Latina laid on the bed, her complexion fading.
She tried to regain consciousness but, somewhere in her hollow, lifeless eyes, they slowly move towards a person’s presence.
At the sight of him out of breath, coming running, her grey eyes flickers.
“….Dale…..”
And what she called out with a hoarse voice, was his name.
『Indigo God(Niirii)』’s Shrine governs 『Life and Death』. Because of that, it became an organisation researching medical technology, pathology, and pharmaceuticals and such. Again, using the results of that research, by establishing a medical centre, even the townspeople are returning.
Latina was carried into the medical center because of Kenneth. It was also lucky that there was nothing wrong with her body. He was told that the initial treatment, as well as finding her early was good.
If it wasn’t for that then even for the 『Demon Race』 who are said to be tough, with so much bleeding coming out from such a small body, there’s no way she would be alright.
“Latina…. why did you… such a thing….”
As he mutters with a trembling voice, Dale slides his hand across Latina’s cheek, and she scrunched up her face.
“Uu….. Uah….. Aa….”
Letting out an unrecognisable voice, her tears falling like a flood.
“Latina…. does it hurt?”
There was no need to answer with an anxious voice.
She put all her strength into gripping Dale’s hand tightly, sobbing.
Shaking her head as if she was refusing.
“I don’t want it….. I don’t want it…..”
What he heard in between her cries, was that kind of wail.
“Latina?”
“I don’t want it, a 『Demon』’s symbol, something like that…. Latina, 『Horns』 and such, it’s better if i didn’t have them!”
At this time, Dale was perplexed at Latina’s words as he had still not found out what had happened to her.
However, at Latina’s unusual appearance, he warns his inner heart that he must not carelessly scold her.
“Latina…. Latina. What’s wrong? What happened?”
“I don’t want it…. why, is it? Why is Latina a 『Demon』? Even though Latina can’t live at the 『Demon』’s place…. even though the 『Demons』 didn’t want Latina…. even though the ones who cared about Latina, who said Latina could stay was 『Humans (Everyone)』….”
(TL: Side note, just in case people don’t know, sometimes Japanese words have a different meaning/saying to their original in which the author writes a new version on top of the word which I will represent in italic brackets)
It was a first, Latina looking this confused.
The things she tended to hide in front of Dale, her true feelings and complaints, Latina’s sorrowful screams resound within the hospital room.
“Why, is only Latina’s time, different?
Even after everyone’s dead, only Latina…. being left by myself, I don’t want tooo…..”
At those words, Dale guessed that Latina found out about something.
He had a hunch that she found out about the 『The length of time determined at birth』, the so called difference of life span between 『Demons』 and 『Humans』.
“I don’t want tooo…. nooo…. Latina, why, why….? It would’ve been better if I wasn’t a 『Demon』
…….
Not being able to be with everybody, I don’t want thaaat…..
Even though I don’t want to be alone anymore…. Only Latina, gets left behind, even though I don’t want that anymore
……
Even though I want to be with Dale, my friends, always…..
During the time everyone’s not here, I’ll be alone, I don’t want that anymoooree….”
— The thing that had hurt Latina, made her despair, was not 『evil intention』 which had been directed towards her.
It was the『truth』 — The unchangeable 『truth』 of the 『Difference between races』.
Dale, had not informed to Latina this 『truth』 before.
— Amongst the 『People Races』, the common features that of the 『Races』 that tend to be 『Unsociable』 is their 『Longevity』. Yes.
(TL: 『人族』の中で『閉鎖的』な傾向のある『種族』の共通点は、『長寿種』であること)
By having the length of time of life to be different, it means there’s a large difference in their values and this births a gap.
『A Human’s 10 Years』 and 『A Demon’s 10 Years』, have different worth as well as time experienced.
In addition to the absolute value of the things they originally have being different, it’s also difficult to compromise.
“Latina… I’m sorry…..”
Not even Dale could decide if he should apologize but, those were the words which immediately rushed out from his mouth.
Holding the sobbing Latina into his arms, he hugs her tightly.
Latina’s soft hair gathers at her cheek, he brushed gently at her 『Wound Opening』, which still had small traces of blood, with his fingertip.