落とし穴８掘：子供達はいつでも成長してる (Part2)
I have indeed heard whispers of such things, but hearing it so earnestly from Rurua-sensei makes me realize it is the absolute truth.
"If these words alone have helped you recognize the terror of monsters, then that is good. Unlike the ones in this dungeon, the monsters outside are truly dangerous. One day, I believe some of you will leave this dungeon city to forge your own paths. So, please, never forget this."
I am remembering those words now.
"Ge-hya-hya!!"
Before us stood a goblin. It looked identical to the ones in our city, yet it was fundamentally different. This small creature spotted us and immediately swung its club down toward us.
"Eek!?"
I squeezed my eyes shut instinctively.
*Clang!*
At that sound, I opened my eyes to see my brother deflecting the club with his sword. Ah, he is so cool.
"Vilia, I know you're scared, but you mustn't close your eyes. And all I can do is protect you; you and Hiiro are the ones who must defeat that monster."
My brother looks at us, his eyes never leaving the goblin, his focus absolute. If it’s just a matter of defeating it...
"To defeat it means to end its life. I know it’s painful, but you must deliver the finishing blow."
"Eh?"
"Brother... that's a goblin. One of Steve's kin..."
Hiiro is right. That is a goblin, one of the same kind as Steve and the others who always protect us.
"...No, they are not the same. Steve and his kin would never lay a hand on you, on the children. Didn't Rurua teach you? That thing there is a monster."
"A monster."
"...A monster."
The small goblin had been surprised by my brother's movements, but realizing he wasn't attacking, it ignored him and lunged at us instead.
"Hmph!!"
My brother stepped in and knocked the goblin back. He protected us immediately, but he wouldn't strike it down.
"Vilia, Hiiro. You two must defeat it. You must end it. If you don't, you will be taken as playthings by the goblins. They will tear your limbs apart."
"...Ugh, uwaa."
"..."
Even being told that, our bodies wouldn't move. We were terrified. The fact that my brother wouldn't attack, whether our blades would even work, the fact that it was kin to Steve, the fear of being made into a toy, of having our limbs torn away, the pain, the weight of taking a life...
And because we were paralyzed by such useless hesitation, the incident occurred.
*Thud.*
A dull sound echoed. My brother had fallen to one knee. He was covering his face with his hand. A pool of blood was forming beneath him.
"Brother!?"
"Onii-sama!?"
The goblin, having stopped its assault on us, decided to eliminate my brother instead. It raised its club high, ready to deliver another blow to him while he was down.
No, stop. Don't kill my brother.
*Clang!!*
I instinctively caught the club with the sword I was holding. I was desperate. My only thought was that I wouldn't let him be hurt any further.
"Hiiro!!"
"Aaaaaahhh!!"
"Ge-hyo!?"
*Slash!!*
The sword Hiiro held severed the goblin's head from its torso.
*Thump.*
The head rolled to the ground, its eyes seemingly staring right at us.
"Ah, ah, I..."
"...I killed it. I actually killed it..."
Both of us were in a daze. Before we knew it, my brother was gently stroking our heads.
"It's alright. You did well. Thanks to you, I was saved. So, it's okay."
"B-Brother..."
"...We killed one of Steve's friends."
We managed to choke out the words in thin, trembling voices.
"Waaaaahhh!!!"
After we finished crying our hearts out, my brother held us close and carried us back outside. We will tell everyone at school about today. That my brother was hurt because of us, that monsters are truly terrifying, and that one must have the resolve to take a life...
And that I will absolutely become someone who can be of use to my brother, who carries this heavy burden every single day.
***
I debated whether to make this a main chapter or a "pitfall" side story. In the end, it became a pitfall. It will be a long time before Vilia and the others truly shine, so this is just a little trap for the readers, haha.
Oh, and of course, my brother's injury was just an act. Yuki is quite the dark character, isn't he?