NORE: I Ate a God Volume 1

Chapter II: Apostle

Since it was unexpected, I didn’t have enough time to brace myself for such full pelt attack, and together, we both fell with me under her and Shiyo pinning me down and hugging me around the neck.

“Noir....” She weakly said as I felt a sudden cold sensation around my neck.

Apparently, Shiyo was crying. Her tears are wetting my shoulder and collar, but I can’t bring myself to tell her to stop either. So I remain silent for a while as I gently stroke her.

I know what it feels. Losing someone you dear knowing they would never come back no matter how much you try, was truly painful.

The sadness, the loneliness, the grief, the despair, the fear and the emptiness it brings to you. It was as if all the life in you was lost, all directions disappeared, all dreams shattered, all promises were broken and all meaning were also lost in an instant once someone important to you was suddenly taken away. I even thought to discontinue living. That’s how painful it was.

I understand Shiyo’s feeling right now and how much painful it must be for her to cry like this. I understand her that’s why I didn’t dare to interrupt and let her be.

Because it’s the same pain I felt when we lost Mom years ago.... —Wait, was that really the first time I feel that way?

For some unexplainable reason I thought I felt the same even way back before our Mom’s, I don’t know why? I may have felt it during my past life. But regardless, I shook my head, erasing the thought off my mind.

There’s no point of thinking it now. Past is past, what was done is done, there’s nothing I can do about it, so why bother?

“Sniff hic....” After a quite some time, Shiyo finally stop crying. But she was still hugging me, so I didn’t move away. And we stay silently like this for a while.

“....Shiyo, are you alright now?” I asked, breaking the long silence. Still, I didn’t stop stroking her hair to ease her calm.

The girl bobbed her head and replied. “Hic.... Yes. Much better now. Sorry, thanks Noir.”

“—Wait. You....didn’t doubt it? What if I’m an enemy or something, trying to trick you?” I gaze at Shiyo in wide eyes.

She doesn’t suspect me? What of I’m an enemy who’s tricking her by using her little sister’s identity to get information or whatever? How careless!

True, such methods do employ by armies and such groups to either infiltrate or assassinate a certain subject or the contact themselves. That’s why people in such line tended to be highly cautious when in contact with other people even around their own families. And yet Shiyo easily trusted a girl who she just met, yet alone, hell knows where she came from?!

Although, I’m happy that you trusted me so well, but at least have some doubts girl!

Also, my name and face was fairly known among the military politics, so it was easy for anyone to impersonate me and use that to their own devices.... —Well not that there were who would use a publicly known dead’s identity for a cover though.

....Maybe 'they' would.... But nah even they wouldn’t be that stupid enough to do such plot, would they?

Monsters were also a case. But judging how complicated the barriers around the abode, not even the strongest monster amongst the area can penetrate them, let alone a scratch....—not that they really worked on me though.

Besides, Shiyo lived here for long years, and I highly doubted she would easily be outwitted by some monster like that, nil.

Yes there are monsters in this area, in fact a whole populace of them inhabit these mountains. And, in some parts of the world, there were legends and stories of monsters deceiving people, so such notion was also highly plausible.