I will die for this person.
I truly believed that.
/
"—His left leg has been amputated. His right eye will never see light again."
At that moment, what came back to Atoli's mind was the tragedy that unfolded before her eyes during the battle with < >.ExterminatorGrim Reaper
Walka lay on the ground, covered in blood.
Rizel cried out,
Yurti, who was knocked away and writhing in agony,
And there I was, slumped on the ground, completely bewildered.
The southern tribe to which Atli was born—commonly known as the "People of Arsvalem"—is a warrior group that has dedicated its history to warfare.
All of their people believe in warfare and take pride in their martial prowess. There, regardless of gender, they are educated from the moment they are born to become excellent warriors. By the time they are old enough to understand things, they are taught how to hold a knife before they learn to use a spoon or a pen, and they hunt relatively weak animals—Atori was one of those warriors raised in this way.
I shouldn't say this myself, but Atori was strong. No one her age could compare to her, and sometimes she even defeated adults, defeating someone at the age of twelve who was supposed to fight in the coming-of-age ceremony. The clan chief, "Obaba," also took a special liking to Atori, and tried to teach her all of her experience and skills with strictness but affection.fierce demonOgre
They say that for the people of Arsvalem, the battlefield is a place to commune with God.
Carrying the weight of history and pride, we traverse the land with boundless energy, connecting with the heavens amidst the swirling blood, burning with life force to become demons. Our comrades, with whom we share a bond of life, are our own, and ultimately, the wounds of our tribe. With our own bodies alone, we will crush all enemies, protect our comrades from every obstacle, cut through all things, and reign supreme with overwhelming military power.
Among all of my grandmother's teachings, there is one phrase that remains vividly in my memory.
"Listen, Atori. You need to meet someone for whom you truly feel, 'I would die for this person.'"
The old woman would always tell stories that were too difficult for children to understand, while ostentatiously blowing her smoker .smoking pipeKiseru (Japanese pipe)
"It doesn't matter if it's a master you serve, a comrade you fight alongside, or the man you love. To sacrifice your life for someone to whom you can dedicate everything—a single strand of hair, a single bone, a single drop of blood, and even your entire soul—is the greatest honor for us."
"...Grandma's dead too?"
"What do you think I am, standing right in front of you...? Well, there are many different ways to say 'to lose one's life.' In my case, I was entrusted with this responsibility. That's why I'm living in shame, comfortably serving as chieftain here. ...If I can raise a child like you, then perhaps there was some meaning in surviving death."
"?"
At the time, Atori was probably around eight or nine years old. By no means was it the kind of story you'd tell a child that age, but regardless, even if she didn't understand the meaning, the words were etched into Atori's memory.
—I will die for this person. Every single strand of hair, every single bone, every single drop of blood, and my entire soul.
I wonder if the day will ever come when I can understand its meaning.
/
I don't remember what I did.
Before she knew it, Atori had impulsively run out of the building and was about to disappear into the shadows of an alleyway she didn't even know where .Holy ChurchKrisclesMouthKuzuo
"Ugh, ugh..."
I covered my mouth and put my hands against the wall. My vision was blurry. I wasn't even sure not.crouchingCrouch
—His left leg has been amputated. His right eye will never see light again.
I feel sick.
I feel like I'm going to throw up.
"Uh, ah, aaaahh
I couldn't do anything.
At that moment, Atori realized with utter utter despair that he had failed to defeat the enemy he was supposed to defeat, failed to protect the comrades he was supposed to protect, and had truly accomplished absolutely nothing.
< > -- A monster of despair that takes the lives of warriors, a force that even the blood of Arsvalem cannot defeat. I had heard stories of it. Several of my ancestors had encountered this monster in the past, and not a single one had returned alive.ExterminatorGrim Reaper
That's why I felt I had to protect everyone. I wasn't afraid of death, and I was confident I could do it. Because that's what it means to be one of the people of Arsvalem.
And yet.
That scene comes back to me again.
The image of Wolka, covered in blood after shielding Atoli, is revealed.
Was it carelessness? Was it arrogance? Even with a blow that Atori poured her heart and soul into, she couldn't pierce the life-removing creature's immortality, and instead, the creature exploited her wide-open stance with a no-motion counter-magic.
I should have been instantly torn apart by the relentless, almost unreasonable torrent of dark magic—or so I thought.
Time is equal for everyone. There is no such thing as a moment when time is stretched out and everything appears to be delayed; only the harsh reality is presented.
It was a very small impact, far from enough to tear the body apart.
Directly to the side.
--Wolka?
Just as expressionless as Atori's, I thought I caught a fleeting glimpse of his determined, gritted-teeth look out of the corner of my eye.
And so, right before Atoli's eyes, Wolka was torn to pieces.
"Uh, uh, uuuuuuh
It's seared into my eyes, my ears, my memory. The sound of flesh being torn and bones being crushed, and the bright red blood spurting out like magic. It was so close, I could almost touch it with my fingertips.
It's Atori's fault.
Because of Atori.
It was something that should never have happened. For the people of Arsvalem, who take pride in martial arts and warfare, it was absolutely unacceptable for someone to be hurt because of one's own weakness, such as being mortally wounded while protecting a comrade. It was not merely a matter of shame or dishonor; my grandmother had taught me that it was even a "sin" that the god of Arsvalem detested most.
It shouldn't have happened, or so I thought.
—So you mustn't end up like me. You'll regret it for the rest of your life.
The nausea won't go away.
"Ah...! Ugh, ahhhh...!!"
The urge to shatter the wall she had worked so hard to protect in one fell swoop. Regret for not being able to protect her friends, frustration at being powerless, the humiliation of having committed a "sin"—but, alas, that's not all. The emotions gnawing at Atori's heart are by no means limited to just those.
Shaking with sobs, scratching at the walls with her fingernails, shedding tears to the ground, deep within the heavy, coiled regret, another emotion, almost the complete opposite, is threatening to drive Atoli mad.
It was an overwhelming sense of reverence for Walka, who risked his life to protect his comrades.
When Wolka was the only one to face the "Death-Taker," Atoli should have been able to move. After all, Wolka had protected her. Atoli, who was unharmed, should have been the one to fight, rather than Wolka, who had suffered life-threatening injuries.
But Atori couldn't move.
No, I wasn't even thinking about moving.
why.
Because I couldn't take my eyes off it.
Atoli was simply captivated by the sight of Walka fighting with all his might .swordnageu
As a member of the Arsvalem people, Atli knew—at that moment, Wolka had completely given up on his life. He wasn't fighting to win or to survive, but simply to risk his life to protect his comrades.
life・of・Burning・or・death・demon・God・and・Growth・ru・—That was undoubtedly the image of the proud warrior that Arsvalem revered.
" ". The blood flowing through Atori's body was telling her so. She had finally found it. Ever since her grandmother taught her those words, Atori had vaguely envisioned the ideal warrior in the back of her mind. The one Atori wanted to dedicate everything to was surely, surely someone like that—i got you...
No. What on earth are you thinking?
Wolka protected Atoli. Because of Atoli, he nearly died and lost his right eye and left leg. Atoli failed to protect his comrades. He committed a crime that can never be forgiven as a member of the Arsvalem people. Yet, he is trying to feel a kind of "joy," which is absolutely not right.
But it doesn't disappear.
It's irresistible.
I yearn for it. I want to engrave it into my memory. The name of the warrior I revere, his resolve, his wounds, his blood, his life—everything about him.
Driven by something beyond Atori's will, it was as if her very soul was being dyed pure white.
"Wolka...! Wolka...!!"
A girl named Atori is consumed by a tormenting mix of guilt for failing to protect her comrades and the deep-seated admiration she feels for those very comrades she couldn't save.emotionsthought
I wonder how long she continued to shed tears right there.
"Please do it...!"
It was purely by chance that she heard that voice. At that moment, Atori's turbulent mind was gradually calming down, and she was beginning to regain some consciousness with a deep breath.
"It's really nothing serious! I can find it myself, so please don't follow me...!"
"No, no, it's more efficient if we all search together, right? Don't worry about it, I was just free anyway."
"Yeah, yeah. It's okay, it's okay, we're pretty nice."
"I really don't need it...!"
"..."
The desperate voice of the girl being stalked, and the frivolous, insensitive voice of the man who is following her.
The nausea and tears quickly subsided, and I felt my heart, which had been so uncontrollable, freeze in an instant. Atori stood up, her expression blank, and headed towards the source of the voice without making a sound.
Just a short distance from the alley, in a secluded spot, the scene unfolded exactly as I had expected.
"Hmm, I don't think they're over here. Let's go over there for a bit. I have some friends there, so let's meet up and search together?"
"I told you I'm fine with that...! P-please stop following me!"
"That's awful, we're so worried about you. We're really kind, you know?"
"What are you doing?"
The man turned around in surprise, and the girl—Yuria—suddenly showed a look of relief.
This isn't a new problem. Even from Atori's perspective, a fellow woman, Yuritia is a lovely and pretty girl. I think she'll grow up to be an incredibly beautiful adult. Because of that, she's always been the target of strange men when she walks around town alone.
Moreover, because she's easily swayed and has an introverted personality, the men get increasingly bold and try to get closer to her. It's been Atoli and Wolka's job to chase away these annoying guys ever since the party took its current form.
This time, there were two men, both a little older than Wolka, good-looking but clearly had sticky fingers and seemed frivolous. They were wearing a talisman with the symbol < > on their waists. Incredibly, they seemed to be adventurers.Emblem of a sword and a staffSword and Wand
Yuritia quickly hid behind Atli. Atli didn't miss the brief moment when one of the men clicked his tongue, as if to say he was completely turned off.
"...Ah, perhaps you're the friend we were looking for? I'm glad you found him."
He said this with a tone that showed not a trace of satisfaction, and the other man looked at Atori and a smirk spread across his face.
Their gaze was unpleasant and lingering.
"Wow, you're cute too. And you're wearing some pretty daring clothes. Are you from another country?"
He's a boring man.
Atori averted her gaze from the front.
"Let's go"
"Ahhh..."
I took Yuritia's hand and started walking towards the street. I could just barely make out the church's cross in the distance. It seemed we had run quite a distance. Even though she must have been suffering too, I thought Yuritia was truly kind to have chased after me for such a long distance.
Of course, if they gave up so easily, the guys wouldn't have been bothering Yuritia in the first place. The guy who clicked his tongue earlier spoke in an even more displeased voice.
"Huh? No, wait a minute, I've helped you this far, so you can have a little bit of it."
And then, just as the man's fingertips were about to touch Atori's shoulder...
Atori turned around like an animal and sent a slight murderous aura towards the man.
"--!?"
"Don't follow me."
He calmly and clearly delivered his ultimatum to the man, who glared and recoiled.
"—I'm in a bad mood right now."
That was the end of it. Turning her back on the man, who was frozen in shock and unable to utter another word, Atori quickly disappeared into the crowd.
The man wasn't following her. Atori breathed a sigh of relief. If he had persisted, she might have broken one of his arms.
Let's go back to church quickly.
"...Are you okay?"
"Oh, yes..."
However, behind Yulitia's small smile, there was an undeniable hint of self-reproach.
"I'm so sorry... I'm causing you trouble even at a time like this..."
"You should just draw your sword. Yuritia is a hundred times stronger."
"Haha..."
When Yuritia lived in her family home in the royal capital, her brothers treated her very harshly because of her remarkable swordsmanship. Moreover, she had been approached by men like that more than once or twice. Because of this, Yuritia still had a strong aversion to older men, around her brothers' age.
Only Wolka and a select few close acquaintances in the Holy City are safe.
"...Um, Atori-san, are you alright...?"
"..."
Atori is completely useless outside of combat and not particularly academically inclined, but she's not so stupid as to ask "What?" in response.
"--Are you okay"
Yes—it's all right now.
Her voice wasn't trembling, and she wasn't feeling nauseous. After shedding tears again and again overwhelmed by those immense emotions, Atori finally understood.
"I'm sorry. I think I'm acting strangely."
"picture...?"
"I have so many regrets, I'm so frustrated and sad. But just as much as that—"
It's only natural to feel sad when you can't protect your comrades.
It's only natural that I would regret it, since I was the one who caused such a serious injury.
And so—having found a warrior so proud that he could burn even your soul, it's only natural that you'd be captivated.
He said.
" "Beautiful・Beautiful・is・tt・Ta・
That was Atori's true, honest heart. There was nothing wrong with this feeling. She realized that even though they were contradictory, they were never a contradiction.
"To burn with passion like that, to risk everything—it was beautiful. It really was beautiful..."
"..."
"It's strange... isn't it? I couldn't do anything. ...But this is the 'blood' that flows through my body."
I regret it, I'm sad—no.
It is precisely because of the regret, because of the sadness, that I yearn for it so intensely, to the point of heartache.
"—I think I can't think about anything but Wolka anymore."
I wonder how I appear to Yurtiaya right now.
Do I seem crazy?
Do I look crazy?
Am I smiling properly right now?
/
"—I think I can't think about anything but Wolka anymore."
The moment Yuritia heard those words from Atori, she felt as if the darkness that had been stretching before her had suddenly been cut away.
It felt like a stab in the heart. When she said that with a faint smile, as if she were dreaming, Yulitia couldn't immediately think there was anything strange about it.
Because Yurti was the same.
Even though I couldn't do anything, even though it was all my own fault for being weak, the image of Wolka at that time, the ultimate expression of his swordsmanship that he used to pry open everything, is etched into my soul and I can never forget it.swordnageu
Even if you regret it, even if you're sad, even if you can't forgive yourself, still.
I couldn't shake off this burning feeling in my heart, no matter what I did.
"Let's go. We have to go back."
"Y-yes..."
I thought I shouldn't have these feelings. I tried to convince myself that they were wrong. But now, having touched Atori's heart, that belief has wavered.
Young Yurtiia doesn't yet know how to deal with these feelings.
There's only one thing I know.
It was beautiful.
Wolka's sword, which even defeated the Grim Reaper, was truly so beautiful that it seemed otherworldly.
/
Later, seeing Walka sleeping in the hospital room, Atoli's emotions reach a complete resolution.
I finally understood, deep down, what that old woman meant back then.
I will die for this person.
Every single strand of hair, every single bone, every single drop of blood, and every single part of the soul.
"—That's right, Atoli. You're only twelve, but now that you've defeated [the enemy], you're officially a grown-up. So, let me tell you about one of our important missions."fierce demonOgre
"what?"
"I hope that someday I'll meet a strong man who makes me think, 'This is the one.'"
"Yeah"
"Get some sperm."
"Kodane"
"Well, it's about having children. In our tribe, there are a lot of kids when they're young, right? So, one of our important missions is to leave descendants and continue the Arsvalem bloodline."To receive honorI'm going to die
"...How do you make a baby?"
"Well, first you pin them down and strip them naked, and then you do this, down to the bone—"
Furthermore, it seems that old woman had imparted a great deal of unnecessary knowledge to Atori.
Tips 'Atri':
A girl from the warrior race, the people of Arsvalem. She recognizes Wolka as an ideal warrior worthy of admiration, and plans to pin him down and strip him naked, just as her grandmother taught her. Intercultural communication is difficult, isn't it?