The sword princess' tale

Volume 4 Chapter 11 - I confess!

Since when did I become like this?

I wanted to live. Yes. That night, amidst the flames and scattered blood... I danced while treading the thin line between life and death. Over and over until I broke down.

I have never thought I would kill someone for my own sake. I never thought that I would reap lives all for my survival. Someone like me who only beat thugs and knocking villains out... murdered people regardless of the racial difference between us.

It was strange. The hands were cold, and yet my blood was pumping like crazy. I felt weak and yet satisfied upon gazing at the corpses before me, and I regretted for stealing their lives.

Mentally speaking, the identity 'Akamaru Toribe' died the moment these hands desired for the selfish chance to survive. The one who lived in a modern era, far away from real dangers and only benefiting from other's help... He died there and then, and 'I' became empty.

Nothing more than a husk. No more than an empty shell. If left alone... I would surely have died out of shock and trauma.

I didn't think anything. Only a hollow gap widened in my heart. My dream. My desire. My hope in this second life... all was brought down the moment I confronted reality.

And yet... he appeared.

Wearing jet-black clothing, possessing dark hair which reflected not even the bright light of the moon. His obsidian grey eyes stared at me and gave me the impression of a Grim Reaper.

Ah... So I'm going to die. At last...

I hoped the nightmare to end. Somewhere in my heart, I wished that this was all a dream I could wake up from. And yet... And yet......

"It's fine. Everything's fine now, Charlotte." His words were woven out as he cradled me in his arms.

Warm. Warmth was the first thing I felt. Then the scent of hydrangea could be sensed although faintly, and then... pain.

My heart ached. It hurts. It hurts...

As I gasped and went into spasms, he held me tightly while rubbing my head. Pushing me to his chest, he consoled me and forgave me for what I have done.

"It's alright... You did well."

His words held no sign of sorrow. He simply told me what he wanted to say without any other reason. So blunt... so honest that my heart ached.

I struggled in his grasp. I didn't want to taste more pain, but the boy insisted as he tried to ease me. Selfishly forgiving me when I stole the future of people who might have something more important than my own.

It hurts... it's painful. It's so painful I wanted to cry. Why...? Why...? I don't get it... Why he forgave me. Why he tried to console me. Why he showed up and bothered himself to pull me in. I just... I couldn't understand him.

"I will definitely protect you, Charlotte."

And then he smiled. He smiled as he pushed me away from danger.

As he returned back into the darkness, encountering dangers and braving against the darkness... I glimpsed his back.

Wide. Firm. Strong... And lonely.

With a thump inside my chest, the stopped clogs began to move. An emotion I have never felt before. Something I didn't know awakened.

But... I didn't know what it was. I couldn't understand it so I let it be and focused myself in something else.

Times passed. I believed I had grown up and become strong. But... The one who I was separated with...

He surpassed my expectations. He blew everything out of the proportions with his heroic achievements.