第２６７堀：託すのは絶望でなく希望 (Part3)
"I did not end in despair. No, I am sure that for all of you, there was someone who reached out a hand as well."
"..."
That’s right. They had someone, too.
Just as Yuki was for me, there was someone who reached out a hand to them in the depths of their despair.
"I will show you. What lies beyond my despair."
"Eh?"
It is convenient that this is a dream; I shall show them that time.
The memories of my village do not end there; there is more to the story.
And, as I focus my mind, the scenery from that day returns.
The houses had burned to the ground, and the remains of my fellow villagers—perhaps scavenged by beasts—were nothing but bones.
Yet, for some reason, the air felt calmer than it had back then.
As if to say that there was no more conflict here.
"...So this is Kaya's village."
"...Yeah."
Yuki and I stood there, with everyone following behind us.
Since Shera wasn't with us, this must have been before Weed was established, right?
At that time, I had insisted on coming to this village.
I wanted to lay my fallen companions to rest.
Yuki tended to be a shut-in, so I thought he would say no, but he gave his permission easily, and we all came to this village together.
"...This is the place where Loire, who stole my name, did his deeds."
"..."
"Listen, both of you. Never look away. Because we, who stand above, were incompetent, Kaya's village was destroyed. Accept that fact. And let it be a warning so that such a thing never happens again."
"Yes!"
Ah, that’s right—Seraria, Rurua, and Elju had come along too.
"Alright, let’s collect everyone’s remains. It’s too sad to leave them like this. Is that alright, Kaya?"
"...Yeah. Please."
As Riel said that, everyone began to gather the scattered bones as they saw fit.
I moved to collect the remains as well, but there was a staff stuck into the ground in the plaza, and I found my feet moving toward it unconsciously.
"Dan... cho."
It was the favorite staff of the leader of the vigilante corps—the man whose life I had ended with my own hands that day.
"Is that the leader you mentioned, the one who raised you?"
"...*Sniff*. Yes. My parents died of illness when I was small. It was the leader who took me in and raised me."
Yuki didn't seem as weighed down by the atmosphere as the others.
He simply placed his hands together toward the bones lying near the staff, speaking as if he were talking to a friend.
"Leader. Nice to meet you. I’m Yuki, the one who bought Kaya and took her in. I’m sure you’re worried sick, but please, don't be. I’ve already freed her from slavery, and I intend to let her live as she pleases. So, it’s going to be alright."
"...Yuki."
I was so happy I wanted to cry.
...I had been intending to apologize.
To the leader who had literally given his life, telling me to survive and keep living.
"...Dan... cho. Thanks to you, I... I was saved. Thank you so much. *Sob*..."
"Ho. Knowing you, I thought you would apologize, saying something like 'I'm sorry I couldn't protect you.' It seems you've been tempered by the world."
"Eh?"
Standing there was the leader, his spirit manifested.
"Forgive the bloodstains. It’s my first time maintaining a form as a spirit; it’s not going very well."
He said such trivial things while scratching his head.
"Le... Leader."
"But what are you doing? I thought you’d come to apologize, regretting that you survived, but here you are, looking forward. I missed my chance to appear. And, was it Lord Yuki? Thank you for taking in a girl like this."
"No, I knew you were there."
"Oh, you saw through me?"
"Well, just a hunch. I figured a man of your caliber could manage it."
"Haha! What incredible insight. If I had a physical body, I would ask for a spar. Now then..."
The leader laughed, and though his appearance was stained with blood, he gave a crisp, dignified salute and opened his mouth.
"On behalf of the villagers who passed before me, I offer my gratitude. Everyone will surely be satisfied with your memorial. Thank you, truly."
It was the same voice he used during training at the vigilante corps—clear, loud, and exactly like the leader I knew.
"Not at all. Kaya is already family. It is only natural to accompany her to mourn her kin."
"There are few people of such character in these times. A village was wiped out; it would be natural to assume the villagers had turned into undead or that dangerous monsters were lurking nearby. Lord Yuki’s actions are noble, but I cannot approve of bringing such lovely young ladies into a place like this."
"Yes. I will take that to heart."
"Pfft, hahahaha!! You truly are a strange man. I thought you would say 'it's fine because I can protect them.' I see—you do not overconfidently rely on yourself, yet you came here for Kaya’s sake. Everyone, thank you truly for the sake of this girl."
After laughing for a while, the leader’s form began to fade.
"Well, my regrets are gone now. ...Kaya."
"Yes."
"It seems you have met good people."
"...Yes."
"Don't cry. Perhaps the way we parted was painful. But it’s no fun to keep looking back. If you wish to pray for our souls, then please, be happy."
"Yes!!"
"A good answer. I can tell you this now, since you are who you are today."
"Leader?"
"A final test from me. There is one undead in our usual spot in the forest."
"...That is..."
"Set him at ease. And then, live in the present."
Without waiting to see the leader vanish completely, I ran out into the forest.
The usual spot—the sunny patch in the forest where he used to go to gather medicinal herbs regularly.
When I arrived, there stood a person with an axe embedded in his head.
No, an undead. The decay was already severe.
Even so, he was still standing.
"Uuu... Gaya... protect..."
He was still standing in the forest, trying to protect me.
What a futile, empty effort.
*Don't exert yourself after you're already dead...* I couldn't put the words into speech.
I couldn't stop my tears.
But I had to say it.
I had to set him at ease so he could sleep soundly.
"It's already okay!!"
When I said that, he reacted and turned toward me.
His face was already heavily decayed, but it was still his face.
"Gu? Gaya?"
"That's right. Thanks to you, I was saved!! It's already okay!!"
"Already... okay? Don't... understand. Still... protect... Gaya."
Ah, I remember now—he hadn't realized it back then.
That he had already died.
"Kaya, shall I say it for you?"
Yuki, who had followed me, spoke up while everyone watched.
But this was something I had to say.
Because...
"Stay away... from Gaya!! I... will... protect!!"
It was the last thing I could do for him, as he was still trying to protect me even now...
"It's alright!! It's really alright!! Tang, you can rest now!!"
"Not... an enemy? Rest... okay?"
"Yes!! You saved me. You aren't an enemy, so it's alright now."
As I said that, Tang’s legs gave way, as if he were kneeling.
He had reached his limit.
I hurriedly supported Tang as he collapsed to the ground.
"I see... Then, I will... rest... a little."
"Yes, yes."
"But... just... a little more..."
Tang said that, then turned his face away from me and stared at Yuki, who was standing behind me.
Ah, was Yuki standing ready so he could help me at any moment?
Is that why Tang was so wary of him?