222 – Promise (3)
#6
The devil’s world was ugly.
The shadow stretched thickly and wept bitterly. As a firestorm swept over the black soil, charred flesh and charred bone fragments were scattered widely like fertilizer. The tent where the young demons slept turned to ashes, and the powerless demons burned to death. Dead bodies with their eyes open were scattered everywhere.
The shadow covered his face with his hands. Tears, black and dirty like dirty water, gushed out. It was only because the shadow was sad.
This emotion belonged to a demon who died in vain due to a certain demon’s anger. Because shadows were shadows, they were able to permeate into the deep darkness and survive, but the small lives inside the tent did not. The flesh was raw and ripe as if to be seen. He struggled in the hot fire and howled bitterly.
How, how could it be so ugly?
What is the world of beings like you?
You are no different from humans.
The shadow stretched out its black hand and stretched it down. I grabbed a handful of hair that hadn’t yet burned out.
The owner of this hair died simply because he was weak. If he had the power to stop the firestorm, he wouldn’t have died.
That’s what the devil’s world was like.
A world that ran away because it couldn’t get along with humans.
If there was no power even in that world, there was no choice but to run away again, which meant death. Extinction of existence. What the shadow fears more than anything. The only place to escape from here was death.
The shadow lingered lonely. Under the cold moonlight, I crossed the dead earth.
I continued to walk for a long time, devouring and devouring the things I encountered, and crying while doing so. I was delighted. Made a fuss I felt lonely. Because I just wanted to live. Because I wanted more to exist.
Ah.
The shadow sighed as it swallowed the young demon’s brain.
Existence was such an easy thing to die. All that was left was tattered rags and horns that had been mercilessly shredded. Tail plucked and torn to shreds. Pale stiff body. The signs of life were so insignificant. It was terrible.
Nevertheless, existence is sublime, and even after death, the existence of life is widely known to the whole world. There were those who remembered the death of existence, and there were those who remembered existence. The shadow vividly remembered what kind of existence the owner of the brain he had just swallowed was.
The existence was Chaika.
I had a name like that.
Name.
In other words, proof of existence.
But the shadows were confused. Shadows were called demons by humans, but that was not their name. Because demons are numerous in this world. The name was unique. The shadow wanted to establish itself as a whole being, and therefore wanted to have a unique name.
Name.
Your name.
The shadow moved to find the name. Until I found a name, a shadow was just a shadow.
But I couldn’t name myself. The shadows were the shadows of humans. I remembered how humans were born and how their existence was proved.
A name is not given, it is given.
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Just as humans called shadows demons.
As if he had fled to the world of demons.
There was supposed to be someone out there somewhere that would lead the shadow into a perfect existence.
Yes.
—There is nothing to devour, to covet, to be satisfied.
As I was swallowing the spinal cord of an old demon whose wings were torn and couldn’t control itself properly, I heard that voice.
─You are greed and gluttony.
Hearing the voice, the shadow finally shuddered.
There really was.
That existence.
─Glutoni.
Glutoni.
─I will call you Glutoni.
That was the name of the shadow.
#7
The morning passed and the sun rose high.
“How well I did…. I don’t even know grace…. Next time never…. I must…. Put on and say….”
A muddled muddle….
Wherever I went, people were packed tightly, but in a booth that was particularly cold, a woman’s cursed murmur went around ominously.
Her woman’s hair was red like autumn leaves. Her red-haired woman was sitting in her chair with her legs crossed and her head bowed. A continuous murmuring leaked out from within her hair, which sat down like her shade.
“This is all…. If you think about it…. Senior authority…. From the beginning…. Then it didn’t work….”
“Senior.”
The boy in the baggy clothes said cautiously. The boy’s face turned red as he turned her head slightly.
Lauren Iona’s attire was quite unconventional. Beginning with high heels that glistened with black gloss, fishnet stockings that showed through the flesh of her inner thighs. A leotard that sticks to her body and emphasizes her body line. To top it off, even the prickly headdress resembling rabbit ears.
Raylin, who designed her outfit, called her a bunny girl.
‘I can’t see… I’ll keep watching….’
As a boy, I was really afraid of what kind of reaction Raylin’s father would react if he saw her daughter’s masculine appearance.
That’s it.
“Couldn’t you be a little quieter? Since her senior is doing that, she doesn’t want anyone to come.”
It really did. There were a few people who glanced at Raylin’s clothes, but they couldn’t help but hesitate to approach the gloomy atmosphere like that deep well.
“Shut up, Jackie.”
“… Yep.”
At the voice that stabbed right away, Jackie shut his mouth.
He was also a member of the circle where Leirin was the president. He stayed on because of her admiration for her, but to be honest with her, it was safe to assume that her circle had no future. Who the hell buys clothes like that…….
It was definitely unconventional, but it was a problem because it was too unconventional. It was a big group to aim for the popularization that Raylin wanted.
‘Am I just sitting and watching today… What am I good at….’
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Jackie was wearing the men’s clothes that were originally scheduled (presumed) to be her model. Because of that, the size didn’t fit at all. He is like a child stealing adult clothes. His chest was wide, and his sleeves were loose. When he lifted his arm, the sleeves rolled down and flowed down. Somehow, I felt a sense of entitlement.
It was clear that the nominee for the model would be that skinny guy at least. He’s a familiar face I’ve seen a few times. A freshman whose senior sang every day. He wondered what he liked about a guy who was just a bit tall and sloppy. He didn’t care at all about himself, who was the closest and eagerly helping his senior.
“Ehh…… ?”
It was the time when I was roughly waving his arm without any motivation.
Someone broke through the crowd and came this way. There’s no way anyone will find it here. It must be because we met eyes by chance. But that someone had an unknown magical power that attracted people’s attention, and when Jackie stared at him as if he was bewitched.
“Hey, I’m sorry.”
“Uh, yes?”
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Jackie was respectful without realizing it.
“Is Raylin-senpai here by any chance?”
A furrowed brow. Pale pink hair that was stained with sweat. She was a young girl with cheeks flushed with heat.
“Uh….”
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Jackie recognized who this girl was.
I turned around and called my senior.
“There you are…. Senior? Who is calling.”
“… ….”
“Senior. Senior?”
“… ….”
“…… I’m sorry. Wait a minute.”
Raising his hand, Jackie approached Raylin and shook her shoulder.
“A first grader is calling. Please wake up.”
“… 1 Grade?”
Suddenly.
Raylin raised her head.
“1St grade…… !”
“Ugh!”
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Jackie staggered back. The hem of my pants was stepped on and I fell down. Her resurrected Raylin clapped her hands together. Her eyes twinkled with bright light.
“Damn it! You’re here! I was waiting for you! I hated you for a while, but it doesn’t matter as long as you came—”
“Oh, hello. Senior Raylin.”
“Uh… ….”
When Rubia said hello, Raylin froze for a moment.
And her expression rotted in real time.
“What… It wasn’t….”
“Yes, yes… ?”
“No…… What’s up? He said he found me….”
Laylin is drooping.
‘Wow, wow….’
The new Rubia was feeling a fresh shock to the clothes that can not comment carelessly, it seems that she is not doing this right now.
“My name is Rubia, number 5 in 1st grade. Maybe she was in first grade and that… Have you ever seen a friend named Ezio Cranil?”
“… Who?”
“Ezio Cranil. He’s tall, and his hair is a bit off-white….”
Rubia placed her hand on top of her head and raised it straight up. She seems to be trying to express how big this is.
However, the three letters of her name were enough for Rayrin.
“Why are you looking for him from me?”
“Well, I heard that they are friendly… ….”
“Hmm. Of course it is! I’m the best friend!”
I’m sure it’s not like you. As for the word
, Skip it for a moment.
“Why is he?”
“Oh, do you know where it is?”
“No, I don’t know.”
“Ah… ….”
A look of clear regret passing by.
But Raylin repeated her question.
“Why is he? What’s going on?”
“No….”
Rubia lowered her gaze and shook her head.
“Nothing happened. If you don’t know, you can’t help it. Thank you for your reply. And, she…….”
“…… Yes?”
Now, as I tried to turn her back,
Suddenly, she threw out her honest words.
“You are very, very pretty. Yes. Costume.”
“…… !”
Raylin opened her eyes wide and covered her mouth with her hands.
How can such a nice junior… !
Gasp─
“Did you say Rubia?”
“Yes? Yeah….”
“Will you join our circle?”
“Yes?”
She grabs Rubia’s hand as she is about to leave and her eyes light up.
“Wait a minute, just looking at you… oh oh This sense of volume… Line… No, even the volume alone is perfect… If you, if you! What have you done yet with this great size! It’s a sin against fashion! It’s a crime! No, it was a crime for me to wear this! I heard that each clothes has its own owner!”
“Seo, senior… ?”
“Now, don’t hold back! Because Ezio or whatever! Hurry up and try this on! In case you didn’t know, I increased the size enough! It’s a big deal if you wake up and it’s tripled in size! Of course it’s a dream! That’s not going to happen even if you die and wake up! I’m so glad I finally met my master! Come on!”
Raylin pushed the bag of her clothes away. Inside her envelope was Bunny Girl mk.
‘Lee, senior Lee… ?’
It was clear from the circumstances that she was trying to put it on herself, so Rubia hurriedly pushed her envelope and bent her back at a right angle.
“Sorry, sorry!”
“Ah?!”
Then I turned around and ran vigorously.
They disappeared into the crowd.
“You, did you remember your name?! I won’t miss it next time!”
Laylin’s desperate cry soared high into the sky.
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Jackie, who was still down, sighed.
#8
“What did you say?”
“I heard you don’t know where it is….”
“Even if you want to give up? If it’s not there, we’re playing with each other. Has he wandered around alone once or twice?”
“Ummm…. Still… ….”
The place Rubia went back to was Yuri and Stella. A combination where two members were missing from yesterday’s members. One didn’t have to join the crowd anymore because he didn’t have Ezio, and the other…….
“I told you right? He kept it a secret from us and went to meet a girl from another class. The fact that no one knows the whereabouts means that strict secrecy is necessary. It was a secret even to us. So what? Of course it is, that.”
Stella smiled as always.
When I think of Ezio’s usual activities, it was nothing but nonsense close to obscenity, but at this point, I was inclined to think that it was really like that. Of course, I didn’t mean to take it seriously….
‘… He went somewhere without saying anything.’
Originally, they had to gather in front of this bench at the same time. However, Ezio did not appear no matter how long he waited. Right after Mew arrived, after confirming that Ezio did not come, she disappeared somewhere. Perhaps she, like Rubia herself, went looking for Ezio?
‘Nobody really knows. Where did he really go?’
It truly disappeared like a mirage. Even in the dormitory that I found with the help of a male senior, Ezio was not there.
─I don’t know. Never seen
Even Iris, who was concentrating on training at the gymnasium.
─Ezio Cranil? Al Riga. What’s going on?
Luke, who was talking with his senpai under the shade of the tree.
─Heh, hehehehe, heh… me, i know What do you know, oh, so many things… you guys… What, what are you doing… All… I saw… Lol….
Canillado was doing fortune-telling at an impromptu fortune teller.
She pretended to know something, but she turned out in the end that she didn’t know anything. Anyway.
─Stretch your arms straighter! The spirit is small! Louder!
─aaa! Now gmaaah! Why am I here?
Gabriel was receiving hellish PT in the training room… Degree.
Neither Aldrie, nor Guile, nor Hati, nor Jascal, nor the seniors, nor even the professors, did not know Ezio’s whereabouts.
‘It’s strange.’
People passing by must have seen at least one, but no matter how much they searched, they couldn’t find any trace of Ezio.
Of course, it was impossible to walk around this vast area in such a short amount of time… Maybe it’s just that we couldn’t find any witnesses.
Then there was only one way.
“Let’s go outside.”
“… Yes?”
“Like Stella said, it could have gone to another school district. Let’s spread out and find it. I’m in District 1, Yuri you’re in District 3, Stella you—”
“No, no. Wait a minute. Rubia.”
Yuri, who had been munching on the candy, pulled it out of her mouth.
“What am I going to do after finding him like that?”
“Yeah….”
“When are you going to search all over there? I will run out of time looking for him. Are we just having fun? I’ll come back on my own later in the night. Just because we’re not his parents, we’re simply invisible…….”
It wasn’t that simple.
‘… I.’
Rubia, who was wringing her hands, suddenly looked in front of her.
─Beep! Orderly! Orderly! Don’t cut in line there! I’ll send you to the back!
People who have achieved a buzz. Busy noise. Bright sun. The heat of a hot festival. Just looking at it makes my head dizzy. Rubia’s eyes gradually grew blurry as she watched the waves of the crowd procrastinate like a haze.
…… When was it
I think there was a time when a person like this went to a bustling market and held onto Ezio’s hand, only to lose it.
Even then, obviously.
“… I am anxious.”
Not only then.
I was anxious all the time.
“If Ezio disappears without a word… Don’t worry.”
I felt like I was left alone, abandoned.
I want to know what to do if we can’t see each other anymore.
“I wondered if I could just start over….”
Lonely, forlorn.
“Like this, like this… If you go away.”
Because I’m anxious.
“I, again….”
I can’t stand it.
“I understand.”
In a short moment, light returned to Rubia’s eyes.
“I know that feeling well.”
A lot.
Someone grabbed Rubia’s hand beside her as she was biting her thumb nail with her front teeth. And she put it down slowly. It seems like you don’t have to. It sounds like you don’t have to worry too much.
“It will be scary. Will it disappear again like last time? Where did you go and get caught up in something dangerous? Is it not going to come back like this?”
Stella just smiled.
“There must be many things we can do. Like Mr. Rubia said, go find Mr. Ezio, or keep waiting, trembling with anxiety like now. Or enjoy the festival with peace of mind.”
“Then, let’s go find it right away….”
“No.”
Stella shook her head slowly.
“There are many things you can do, but there are other things you have to do.”
“… What is that?”
“I believe.”
Stella’s words continued, holding on to her necklace.
“Ezio is strong. Good luck. He also had a strong will, so he had no fear even when the devil was right in front of him. In the end, they even fought on an equal footing. We were able to survive the labyrinth thanks to Mr. Ezio. Who could threaten someone so strong?”
“… ….”
“If Mr. Ezio disappeared without a word, there must have been a reason.”
I wonder if I could have said something before disappearing.
… No, no. Ezio didn’t say it on purpose. Rubia was able to deduce that much without difficulty.
If you tell me, you’ll be anxious and worried like you are now. It would have prevented me from enjoying the festival properly.
“So trust Ezio. If you know it, it might not have been a big deal, right? When you come back later, let’s ask from one to ten.”
“… Then, what about Ezio?”
“Yes?”
“… Didn’t Ezio, on the contrary, not trust us? Didn’t you tell us anything because you didn’t believe it?”
“Hmm, that might be the case.”
Stella pondered, placing her finger on her lips. She said then she said
“Let’s think about it the other way around. Mr. Ezio believed that we would trust him and wait for him, so he didn’t say anything.”
“… ….”
“Then worrying about Mr. Ezio and looking for him would be a nuisance, right? It would be a betrayal of faith. More than anything, if Mr. Ezio went to do something really dangerous…… That’s because they value us, so they probably don’t want to interfere even more. Rubia-san knows that well.”
A small smile followed.
“What kind of person is Mr. Ezio?”
The man who saved himself by burning his life.
A lifesaver and a precious person.
A person who eventually became kind to himself even when he could do something he couldn’t do.
That was Rubia’s childhood friend, Ezio Cranil.
“… Yes.”
I can’t bear to bother such a person.
Rubia let out an even smaller sigh from her small lips.
“I know. Just… because I’m anxious This is my feeling that I can’t help it. How can’t this Even if you enjoy the festival, you will keep thinking about it. Maybe.”
It’s not that I don’t trust him.
However, just like this, one side of his chest was blocked.
“Well, what is it? Let’s go somewhere else later and sing a song out loud. You might hear Rubia’s song and come to visit, right?”
“Me, me? I can’t do that….”
“Ah, did I hear everything? I heard you’re going to sing to Ezio later? Be bold too. Why would such a person say that he should not do it in front of others?”
“What, what? What? Uh, when… !”
“By the way, you heard that last night too? I heard you went to your hometown together during vacation? Be envious Can I go with you too? I’ll buy the fireworks for you. Yeah?”
“…… ! Whoa, what are you talking about! Never! Anyway no! Stupid Stella! Idiot! Embarrassing sound… !”
“Ahahahaha.”
Lubia and Stella are chatting in a relaxed atmosphere. Rubia grabbed Stella by the shoulder and rocked her around, her face red. It was a fun time at the festival.
‘Hmm.’
Haljjak.
Yuri, who had been silently watching their conversation, rolled the candy that was about to disappear in her mouth.
‘It’s not easy to be in a position like this.’
There must be at least one stance that doesn’t care.
Isn’t that how the community will run smoothly?
‘I need to come soon. You.’
Really….
Where did you go?
Yuri lowered her eyebrows.
#9
“You’re here.”
A knight was standing on the side of a busy road.
My eyes were dazzled by the sunlight reflecting off the heavy armor. It was a light so intense that one could not approach it carelessly.
Even so, the eyes were flocking like a swarm of bees. Because the presence of that dazzling knight was huge like a mountain.
“I am here.”
There was a person who was moving closer to the giant knight.
It was me.
“I never thought I would see you again.”
“Yes, me too….”
Gileon Astabelle.
The captain of the Imperial Guard who inspected my belongings earlier.
I will become this person’s business partner from now on.
I grabbed my angle and bowed my head.
“This is Ezio Cranil. I look forward to.”
“… Well. This is Gileon Astabelle. I have introduced you.”
The buzz around me grew louder and louder.
“Let’s just say that. It will move right away.”
Not only the imperial sword that is hard to see, but even a nameless war hero are here.
“… Can I really trust you?”
Gileon looked back at Elena and expressed disbelief.
It must be unreliable.
You’ll look like a mediocre student at first glance.
Actually, that’s true, but….
“Your skills are certain. Good to believe Your mouth is also heavy.”
“Um.”
“But there is just one problem.”
“… What?”
Elena stared at me with her arms crossed.
“There is a possibility that you will turn your eyes away while fighting. In that case, you and I have to subdue him.”
I think I know what you mean.
I used to feel the blood boiling when I saw demons.
I was also quite concerned about that.
“Hmm.”
Gileon looked down at me from inside his helmet.
“What a troublesome fellow.”
“… Sorry.”
I was sorry, so I apologized.
“All right. Move now.”
Gil Leon brushed off her gauntlet and turned her around.
A cooing sound rang out.
“They disperse as planned. Human casualties are minimal. Make sure there are no casualties even if there is noise. It can be silenced to some extent, but as soon as there are serious casualties, that becomes impossible.”
In my opinion, it was right to cancel the festival at this point. However, Gileon seemed to have decided that it would be better to continue the festival as long as there was no damage beyond a certain level. There was no room for me to intervene, since it was an adult matter anyway. Here, you can start hunting demons as instructed.
“I will go first. Grab it and kill it.”
The crowd split as Gileon walked. Gileon proceeded along the road as if cutting through the current, and naturally started patrolling the surroundings.
“I am going too. Junior.”
Elena put her hand on my shoulder.
“Don’t fall behind. Don’t let anyone fall behind. Got it?”
“Yes, senpai.”
“Anyway, the answer is good.”
Elena, who was smiling, turned around and walked away.
She had her people crowding around her, but Elena drove them all away with one stinging glance.
I was the only one left….
What.
‘Shall we move?’
I also turned my back as I patted her neck.
Starting from District 3, where we are now located, we will roam around the frontier like catching mice today. Among them, the most unpopulated place is the main stage. I catch him there knock it down kill.
‘I told you to beware of shadows and darkness.’
Confirmed.
Then, now.
‘Let’s go.’
Okay.
It’s time for demon hunting.