Kanna no Kanna

TL : sairennohebi

I wonder when it happened? A『voice』that"s not mine took over my mind. At first I recognized that as something strange. Hence, I resisted it. But the more I resisted the more painful it became. In time resistance became impossible and I gave in to the『voice』. Having been enslaved, it felt like my emotions dimmed and I stopped caring about everything.

Like a lifeless puppet.

It was then that the『voice』gave me orders.

— — — — “Kill”, it said.

Having no will to fight back. , I obeyed without feeling the slightest repulsion towards the act.

The target was a red haired woman. I didn"t even know who she was or why I had to kill her. I was a simple tool that brings death.

I started moving along with the other a.s.sa.s.sins. There was no sound of conversation between us. Though that was a given considering everyone most likely suffered the same fate as me.

Before long, an opportunity revealed itself. Pursuing someone, the woman went into a back alley. Not missing the chance we got ready to attack.

The magician that was accompanying us fired a long ranged magic. If that killed the target then good. And if it didn"t it can serve to confuse the enemy.

— — — — something unexpected took place.

As if he was some clairvoyant, The『someone』that the target was chasing easily handled the surprise attack. He even fended off all our next attempts to kill the target.

We were told beforehand of the lady and her escorts" level of abilities. Only then did we move. Yet that『Someone』ruined everything.

More than that, If the comrade of the『Voice』, that magician hadn"t saved us, all the puppets would have gotten captured. In fact two of us suffered some injuries.

The really abnormal part was the spell 『That』was using. He constructed the formula in almost no time. He was clearly a threat.

Yet weird enough both the『voice』and the magician didn"t even give him a glance. As if to say that his existence was of no importance. Had I been serving them of my own free will, surely I would have regretted my inability to even warn them.

It was precisely that difference in view that sealed our fate.

The attack of the magic beasts that The『Voice』controlled, from the front. and an ambush using us, from behind, both crushed. excluding me all four a.s.sa.s.sin"s were ma.s.sacred along with the magic beasts.

I felt my ego returning as I lost consciousness.

It was then that I saw death closing in on me.

In order to hide it"s existence, the『Voice』had planted a magic crystal that activates when a certain amount of time had pa.s.sed since the start of the mission and the puppet recognized the mission"s failure. It"s effect, of course is crushing the puppet"s heart.

I honestly felt relieved.

Ah, with this I"m finally released. There is no need to embrace something like hatred at the time of my death.

But I also felt regret. Though I don"t regret having left home despite all the voices that were against it, It"s a little disappointing that I couldn"t achieve my goal.

What proceeded that was an emotion much more simpler that relieve and regret.

— — — — I want to live.

While being relieved I also couldn"t accept my death.

— — — — i don"t want to die.

I felt strong frustration towards my regret.

But it"s already too late. Even though I Intended to understand that, I still couldn"t abandon this feeling.

Had I really wanted to die, I should have just resisted the『Voice』and the resulting pain would have killed me. I should have refused the mission and my heart would have been crushed.

But I wanted to live. I strongly desired that no matter how shameful it was.

That"s why, right?

Something like the mastermind"s scenario I"ll make sure to ruin it completely and thoroughly. I heard a『Voice』in the middle of the deep darkness of my heart.

A totally different『Voice』from the one that was ruling me so to say.

The foreign something that was sticking to me had at some point disappeared.

Instead I felt a refreshing cold.

As if my body that just got hit by a wave of heat is getting cooled.

Then I remembered that my life was disappearing.

However, my regret was no longer.

Dying while enveloped by this comfortable cold might not be so bad, or I so I thought.

— — — — An unfamiliar ceiling.

………………. No well, it"s been a while since I got to look at one in the first place. Lately  sleeping in tents was the norm after all.

“…………….Ah, it"s that kind of thing huh.”

Staggering for a second after opening my eyes, I remember what happened, I had lost consciousness from the rebound of spirit magic. It is the『spirit exhaustion』that hadn"t occurred in a while. The fight with the mysterious magician in the valley, that last spirit magic I used was the final blow.

Putting power in my body I raise my upper half in order to ascertain the situation. I confirm that I"ve been sleeping in a normal room you can find in any inn around. It seems like we safely arrived at the next town after I fainted.

“I wonder how much I slept though.”

According to Rand, there"s quite the distance between this town and that valley. At the very  least a few of days should have pa.s.sed. Frankly, this is my first time surpa.s.sing my limits that much with spirit magic so I can"t really tell how much has pa.s.sed. Usually, I"d recover in half a day or so from a normal『spirit exhaustion』.

I look at the room again, there"s n.o.body aside from me. looking from the window I could see the blue sky. It"s daytime and everyone is out I guess.

“Oh?”

— — — — Nay, looks like someone is here. Having sensed a presence, without thinking much, I take a look below the bed I was sleeping on. my field of vision turns upside down.

— — — — My eyes meet with the eyes of the『person』below the bed.

The face of someone from the orient with black hair and eyes.

I remember the last survivor of the a.s.sa.s.sins that attacked us or rather Faima. Looks like she opened her eyes faster than I did.

“……………………..”

“……………………..”

Humans are creatures that turn speechless when they meet eyes.

Silence dominated the room as we locked eyes.

“……………………. Wa?!”

Gon!!

“Wa—!!! Uu!!?!”

The first to come to here senses was the blackhair-san but she seems to have forgotten where she was and hit her head.

“Err……………You fine there?”

An amazing sound resounded through the room as the bed was hurled up. Blackhair-san puts her hands on her hit head while shaking.

“P,please don"t mind me.”

She moves her hand indicating she"s okay with her head facing down. But she doesn"t look okay at all.

More importantly, since she"s lying down on the floor her bosom is. .h.i.tting the ground and her rich chest is spreading to the sides

“………………. Well anyway, once you calm down get out of there, otherwise you"re gonna hit your head again.”

“Yes……………”

A few minutes later, having recovered from the pain blackhair-san slipped from under the bed. Looking from above it is a very surreal scene.

She kept standing but since I didn"t like that I had her take a seat on the bed besides mine. I also sit on the bed I was lying on.

gazing at the woman in front of me I wondered where should I start explaining from. But before I could say anything she opened her mouth.

“………………. Your comrades already explained everything.”

She puts both hands on her chest.

“Not only did you save the life of『this one』you even freed me from the rule of that『voice』.”

(TN: She said 『拙者』 which reads sessha, the samurai"s way of calling oneself.)

Her hands are held where the crystal that bound her was planted. As if confirming her freedom she keeps tapping that place with her fingers.

…………….Eh,『this one』?

“Although late my name is Chloe degozaru.”

Chloe gives her name and lowers her head.

“I"ll never forget the favor of having saved this life degozaru.”

………………. Someone with strong attributes came out again.

A j.a.panese atmosphere, that sessha and gozaru way of talking and above all those melons.

Even while receiving the grat.i.tude from the bottom of her heart, I was thinking something incredibly stupid.

Soon after two of my companions enter the room — — it was Real and Faima.

“Oh, Kanna. You finally woke up huh.”

The first to raise her voice was the first bullet br.i.m.m.i.n.g with attributes (Real). I wave my hand.

“How long did I sleep for?”

“Close to two days I"d say. you broke the record.”

“That"s one record that doesn"t need to get broken though.”

That"s right eh. Sympathizes Real with a bitter smile on her face.

“Are you fine? Is your body alright?”

“Although it"s a little sluggish there"s no problem.”

Cheerfully answering Faima who seemed worried.『I see』, she in turn became relieved.

“We already had a doctor take a look at you but there was nothing to worry about, just some bruises that didn"t even require the use of magic. But well, you"re bit unique and all so just say so if you feel anything abnormal.”

“Understood, the other three are?”

“Rand went to get a new carriage. Kisuka is checking up on her injuries and Agat is accompanying her.”

“Kiska got injured right?”

“It"s nothing that serious though. Today"s examination is supposed to be her last.”

“That"s good to hear.”

Though we were under attack and it couldn"t be helped the main cause of Kiska"s injury could be said to be me. I"m glad it won"t leave any marks on her body.

“So this person, Chloe-san was it? How did it turn out with her?”

Now that I think about it I should have restrained her legs with my ice. Ice made with spirit magic will never melt with normal temperature. Which means that these guys destroyed it.

“I forgot to mention it but this is the closest town to that valley. Since the carriage broke down it saved us that it was close by. It was right after we reached town that Chloe"s consciousness returned.”

“So she woke up before I did huh. The one who broke the cuffs is?”

“Of course it was me.”

Pointing at her great sword Real says so. Oi oi,  are you sure you didn"t cut something else along the cuffs with that big sword. Ah, Chloe"s face turned blue. she"s remembering that time"s scene huh? That must have been scary.

Real continues without clue about Chloe"s feelings.

“I though she would be confused after waking up but surprisingly she was quite calm. listening to her talk it became clear that she was just being manipulated as we though. seeing that she isn"t dangerous I and Rand-dono agreed on releasing her.”

“Didn"t Agat, Agat-kun or Agat-san criticize that decision.”

“No no, aren"t all of them the same person? Even if he gives a warning, Agat generally listens to Rand"s decisions after all. Kiska is the same. Rand himself made the decision while considering their opinions.”

“What about you, Faima?”

“I"ve seen with my eyes how brutal that binding magic was after all. If there is a person willing to work under someone while having that on, that person wouldn"t be sane. That"s why I"m also of the opinion that she was simply being manipulated.”

So everyone believes her to be safe huh.

Now, what about me?

No well it"s true that I was the one who made the choice of saving her. But that has nothing to do with her life or character.

I only saved her because first, I didn"t want things to go the mastermind"s way.

And second, because I didn"t want to give up on a life that could have been saved.

the equation of (Saving her life=trusting her) doesn"t exist within me.

Only this time my opinion most likely intersects with that of Agat whom I believe to be  only obeying Rand"s decision without trusting Chloe.

And I believe that to be the correct course of action. At least for the time being.

“Ano…………….”

Chloe hesitatingly raised her hand to me who was crossing my arms, deep in thinking.

“would you allow me a few words gozarou ka?”

“……………………. GO ahead degozaru yo.” (Kanna)

I want to be forgiven for losing all the seriousness I had when I heard her talking. I"m reflecting on it.

“Although this one was undoubtedly being controlled by the『Voice』, I more or less remember what I did. It remains true that this one pointed her blade towards everyone. manipulated or not, it"s not something that can be forgiven so easily degozaru.”

The expression of Chloe when addressing her sins was one full of sorrow.

“Fortunately, this one has already been freed from the『Voice』 . However if you say that you can"t forgive this one then ……………..”

Her eyes after she closed and opened them again were full of  resolve.

“It"s fine to lay down this life degozaru. If you say to die, this one will die.”

towards Chloe"s declaration Faima and Real show clear agitation.

“Stop there Chloe-dono.-you were just being controlled by this『Voice』right? Then you have no obligation to go that far.”

“Exactly. I can attest to the mercilessness of the magic that was constraining you. Then you who was being manipulated by that are not to……………….”

“This is『settling』degozaru you two. If this will help wipe my shame then I want nothing more degozaru.”

Though it ended in failure Chloe did try to kill Faima. Even at that time in town she would have been killed if I wasn"t there. Chloe probably doesn"t think of that as something that can be pardoned so lightly. I look into her black eyes and see that she is serious.

— — — — Then I"ll have you show me how serious you are.

“Fine then.”

I lightly wave my hand and make a dagger of ice.

I touch the blade with my finger and cut it.

“As you can see, although it was made in hurry it"s sharpness is the real thing.”

I point the handle at Chloe.

“As you talked, settle things with your life.”

“Wha!! Kannkun?!”

“Kanna!! what are you?!”

ignoring the two making a racket in the background I turn my eyes to Chloe, though she was stunned for a second. The next moment she took the dagger from me with strong will residing in her eyes.

And before the two can even say anything. Chloe thrust the dagger into her chest.