Tatakau Shisho

Chapter 7

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THE SUNSET, SHIRON AND COLIO – PART 1

February 18, 2016Tgurneu

The rain had already stopped at some point.

The wind was still strong, making the hectic clouds drift from east to west.

Cigal carefully parted the hair that clung to his forehead. At his feet was Hamyuts, who fell on her knees while clasping her sling.

While looking down at her, Cigal pulled out a match from the waterproof cigarette case in his pocket and rubbed it a couple of times. Water somehow got inside during the battle and thus it only emitted an unpleasant smoke.

Cigal threw the match away. Seeing that, the kneeling Hamyuts grinned.

“Such a pity. Even convicts on the death row are gran…ted one final smoke.”

Hamyuts cringed at the pain of her wounds.

Since it even interrupted her words midway, they lost all impact.

“Come on, attack me. Are you scared? You are, right? That’s obvious.”

Hamyuts continued. It was a bluff. Even with her strong body and her physical strength that was further aided by magic, she couldn’t move her legs anymore.

Looking down at Hamyuts’s state, Cigal spoke.

“Aren’t you going to beg for your life? You loser woman. Raise your rear like a dog and beg.”

“…You piece of s.h.i.t.”

Hamyuts was thinking – which attack got me?

Just now, the right side of my body was cut pretty bad. I can’t move like this. Since it hit from my right shoulder to the navel my right breast is practically cut into two. Well, but that isn’t really the problem here.

The fact that the toes on my right foot were cut off is also bad. Only the joints of my little pinky remained. My wounds are buried in mud and sewage is coming in touch with my veins. Right now my head feels hot, but when it cools down it’ll surely be painful.

It’s pretty bad that I cut the tendons in my right ankle when I turned my body. That took care of my right foot.

My head was also hit quite a lot. Maybe I should review the basics of landing safely? My finger is also bleeding… it’s because I left the sling wrapped around it.

I made a terrible misjudgment in my strategy as well. If the typhoon was going to pa.s.s so quickly, I could have also devoted myself to running away.

Oh well, she stopped thinking. That’s it.

Cigal was grinning as he looked at Hamyuts.

“Hmph, that’s enough. Die.”

Cigal slowly raised Shlam.u.f.fen.

Hamyuts clenched her sling.

She wanted to at least try and take him down with her.

She couldn’t let the b.a.s.t.a.r.d who killed her stay alive – that was all.

“…”

Hamyuts looked at her surroundings. A newspaper was dancing in the wind. Broken wet branches lay on the ground.

She didn’t notice it until now, but they were near a vacant lot in the outskirts of town. Around them were sc.r.a.p iron, wood and coals.

Hamyuts noticed that the ground had the traces of an explosion, almost completely erased by the rain and the storm. One of the bombs prepared by Cigal probably detonated here before.

She thought that her last view was rather dull.

“Hamyuts Meseta!”

Then, she heard a voice. It wasn’t the voice of one of the nearby residents who already ran away from danger.

Both Cigal and Hamyuts looked at the voice’s direction. A human pushed his way through to enter this superhuman battlefield.

This out-of-place intruder was gasping for breath, and talked in a calm voice.

“Wait. I’ll do it.”

The intruder was a boy. He was short and had a slight hunchback. His hair was overgrown and grizzled.

His grey linen shirt became slightly wet in the rain.

“Who are you?”

Cigal asked.

“Colio Tonies.”

The intruder simply stated his name. And he was standing in front of the kneeling Hamyuts as if to protect her.

“Colio… who exactly are you? I can’t recall.”

“One of the bombs made by you guys.”

“Well, well. So you’re still alive? Some of you are tough after all, huh.”

While grinning, Cigal withdrew Shlam.u.f.fen’s blade.

Hamyuts searched for an opening there. But this wasn’t enough yet. Cigal was still vigilant against her.

“It sure is convenient… Colio, was it? Alright, that’s perfect. I’ll give you the honor of killing Hamyuts.”

Cigal smiled and pointed at Colio’s chest.

“Kill her.”

However, Colio didn’t move. Cigal looked puzzled.

“What is it? Quickly detonate yourself.”

Colio didn’t answer.

“Why did you brat come here? You’re in the way. Scram.”

Hamyuts said towards Colio’s back.

“What are you trying to do? It’s none of your business. Get outta here. Quietly go away and then you can live or die or whatever.”

Colio didn’t answer Hamyuts’s words either. She scowled at his back.

“What is it? Do it already. Well, I guess I can give you some time to enjoy yourself. Even if I think this world is worthless, there are still all kinds of people I want to see. Hahaha, this feels good.”

“You’re in the way. Scram, Colio. If you stand there I can’t kill that piece of s.h.i.t.”

Colio slowly but carefully opened his mouth.

“Shiron’s Book…”

Colio started talking to Cigal. Hamyuts was completely befuddled.

“Do you have Shiron’s Book?”

Cigal shrugged.

“What are you saying? It’s nothing to waste time over.”

“So you do have it?”

Colio pressed further. Cigal looked like he didn’t want to bother answering.

“…Do you want Shiron’s Book? Are you stupid? What’s a s.h.i.tty brat like you trying to do?”

Hamyuts said from behind.

“I do want it, but right now it doesn’t really matter.”

“What?”

Colio pulled a single knife from his pocket.

“I came here to fight.”

Both Cigal and Hamyuts were at a loss for words at the sight of him holding a knife.

The one trying to interrupt the battle between the owner of one of the Memorial Weapons, Shlam.u.f.fen, and the world’s strongest sniper, was an amateur brandishing a knife.

Even when viewed from the eyes of Hamyuts who was far detached from common sense, it seemed ridiculous.

“Are you stupid? Do you think you have a chance? Do you really think you can win?”

Hamyuts said the obvious thing. Colio answered her,

“…I can’t win against an opponent that even you lost against. Even if I were to fight him thousands of times, I still wouldn’t beat him.”

Colio clenched his knife. He stared at Cigal, who stood about seven meters ahead of him holding Shlam.u.f.fen.

Cigal looked at Colio, grinning.

However, despite the overwhelming difference in their abilities, Colio didn’t waver.

“That’s why I’m not the one going to fight.”

“So who will?”

“Me and… Shiron.”

At that moment, the blowing wind grew weaker. Neither Cigal nor Hamyuts noticed that fact.

They only paid heed to Colio.

“How are you planning to beat him?”

“I don’t know.”

Colio waited. He believed that moment was coming.

“So run away.”

“No, I’ll fight.”

Colio firmly stepped on the ground.

“Why?”

“Because Shiron didn’t see me running away.”

At that time, the wind rapidly weakened.

“Shiron…”

Colio muttered.

“Is this the moment, Shiron?”

The wind ceased.

“Is this the moment, Shiron!”

Colio dashed towards the smiling Cigal.

“Is this the moment, Shiron Booyacornish!”

Shiron said the following at the time of dusk.

“When my words reach you…

Please go to the place where a precious person lost someone precious to them.

What you were seeking for a long time will weigh on your back.

For a brief moment, the wind will stop. Please run without hesitating then.”

Colio clearly remembered those words.

For an instant, just enough for the leaves dancing in the air to fall down, the wind stopped and Colio ran.

Cigal grabbed his sword so he could slice the oncoming Colio to pieces.

And just when Shlam.u.f.fen was about to start laughing…

All of a sudden, without any warning…

The world was dyed in a red light.

“…!”

It came from directly behind Colio.

The red setting sun shone in from a small gap in the clouds.

The sunset drowned this world where the rain and clouds were colored grey for an instant. The clouds, winds, and the three people facing each other were all dyed by red light.

This wasn’t just another sunset typical of Toatt Mining Town.

It was an incomparably clearer sky.

The typhoon that came only once a century cleansed and blew away the town’s ashen air.

It was the light of an unclouded sunset that wasn’t seen for who knows how many decades.

That light was at Colio’s back.

Cigal was directly facing that light.

His eyes, which became used to the dimness in Toatt Mining Town, were now blinded by that red light.

“Shiron!”

Colio called her name again.

Cigal’s unaccustomed eyes couldn’t face the light.

He instinctively closed his eyes. He covered them with the hand that was about to grasp Shlam.u.f.fen.

In that brief opening, Colio closed the endless distance between them.

A storm came only once a century. Piling these coincidences on top of each other, this was the only chance for victory.

And Colio took it.

His knife closed in on Cigal’s chest…

Shlam.u.f.fen was pulled out…

A spider blade and a small knife were intersecting…

And everything was settled far too quickly.

THE SUNSET, SHIRON, AND COLIO – PART 2

February 19, 2016Tgurneu

Shiron wore a black combat uniform.

Shlam.u.f.fen was in her hand.

Her surroundings smelled of blood and the corpses of soldiers were strewn around.

Shiron’s hands turned a notebook’s pages.

The cure for Dragon Pneumonia was written inside. Those were the results of her predictions and research.

She slowly flipped through the pages as if she was reading it to someone who wasn’t there.

When she reached the very last page, Shiron said,

“September 20, 1924. An unprecedented typhoon will come to Toatt Mining Town.

That’s when that person and that man will fight. It is also the time when the long dormant Dragon Pneumonia will awaken.

To you, the injured person who holds this Book-

I know that man will try to kill you using my predictions.

However, without them, that person and I wouldn’t have met. I want that person to see me. This is why I’m prophesizing this right now.

I am sorry for causing you inconvenience. Please forgive me.”

After saying this, Shiron closed the book.

The one she was talking to was Hamyuts Meseta.

“However, I must also thank you.

For taking that person’s bomb. For letting him live.

For protecting the town of that person, Big Brother Carth.e.l.lo, and Big Sister Ia.

Thank you so much.”

Shiron spoke while pointing at the notebook.

“With this method, you’ll be able to make the cure for Dragon Pneumonia in less than a day. I believe that is enough time for you and for Big Sister Ia to receive it.

It should be simple enough for someone in your position.”

After saying so, she wielded Shlam.u.f.fen and the notebook was torn to pieces.

“However, I believe it should be erased. In case another such conflict occurs again, it’s for the best.

If no one will know the cure for Dragon Pneumonia, there won’t be another person like me – except for that man in the distant future.”

“…You witch. Ever-Laughing Witch…”

A voice resounded. It was a man’s voice that lacked empathy.

“What do you hope to accomplish by killing me? Do you think you can destroy the Cult?”

The upper half of the body belonging to the Magician called Wyzaf had fallen down. Both of his arms and lower body scattered into black sand. It seemed to be a matter of time before even his upper body will crumble away too.

“No, I’m fully aware of this. It won’t end with you. The Cult will continue living on.”

“Then why?”

“…I wonder why? I’m with that person. I don’t care.”

“You… don’t care? You will die.”

“I don’t mind. It doesn’t matter to me at all.”

“This can’t be…”

The stunned Wyzaf looked at Shiron’s face. She spoke while smiling.

“Speaking of which, today I learned that person’s name. It is a splendid name, just as expected.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“This doesn’t have anything to do with you.”

Shiron calmly said.

“I have already grown older than that person at some point. When I first saw him, he looked like an adult to me. It’s been a long time since I started following him.”

“You foolish woman. My suffering is the suffering of G.o.d. And yet… and yet you little…”

Wyzaf’s swearing was ended by Shlam.u.f.fen’s slashing attack. He became sand and was scattered away.

“I should have made this decision sooner.”

Shiron said while looking at the Magician’s remains.

“Thinking about it, ever since I let Wyzaf take advantage of my power, ever since I yielded myself to the Indulging G.o.d Cult, I’ve spent too much time on nothing. I abandoned myself to the pleasure Wyzaf offered me and lost sight of my true feelings.”

Shiron began speaking.

“It happened when I was a child. When I evoked my power for the first time, the one I had seen was that person.

In the far future, he would call my name and run forward. That sight set my young heart aflutter.

When I tried peeking to the future to see him again, my power was awakened.

I met Big Brother Carth.e.l.lo and Big Sister Ia and received their warm words.

At that time I was constantly crying, but thinking back on it I think I was happy.”

Shiron continued speaking alone.

She wasn’t talking to Wyzaf’s remains or to Hamyuts, but simply to herself.

“Some time had pa.s.sed since then, and Wyzaf appeared before me.

I didn’t know how to doubt people, so I was lured by his words.

Since I was living poorly, I was fascinated by him.

While my eyes were sparkling at the sight of the various presents Wyzaf gave me, I became complicit to his crimes.

It took me a considerable time to notice what kind of horrifying things I’ve been doing.

The results of what I’ve carried out and Wyzaf’s terrifying plan – the future I saw made me shiver.

However, I hadn’t left him.

I grew accustomed to living like royalty and couldn’t bear returning to my original circ.u.mstances.

I didn’t have the courage to confront Wyzaf and change the future, nor did I despair enough to kill myself.”

Shiron looked at the notebook’s shreds.

“After this, as you know, I was praised as the Ever-Laughing Saint and obtained a large wealth. Of course, everything went according to Wyzaf’s scheme.

While being showered by the people’s praises, I always felt the pangs of my conscience in my chest. I felt the unbearable need to confide in someone that I actually tricked those people.

These conflicting days continued.

However, with my grand wealth and while being surrounded by my many admirers, the voice of my conscience gradually vanished.

I thought it didn’t matter anymore. That there was no meaning in suffering or worrying about such things.

I have worried enough already, and I was the one who saved the world in the first place.

I thought it would be fine to just forget everything, bury myself into my wealth that would never exhaust itself, pursue temporary pleasure and live the rest of my life like that.

I have thought and lived like that until a certain day.

That day was completely normal.

It was just that during that day, I had seen the sky for the first time in a long while and it was extremely beautiful.

Looking at the beautiful sunset, I suddenly recalled the figure of that person.

I have forgotten about him for a long time – about that person, who will die while calling my name.

I wondered if that person would love me as I was then, and it became unbearable for me.

There was no way he would. That person fell in love with me when I fighting.

Just as that person was fighting, he wouldn’t love me if I weren’t to fight. Right, I thought to myself.

Great wealth and that person’s heart-

It wasn’t an issue of which was more important.

No matter how much wealth I’ll pile up, I will never be able to buy that person’s heart.

Thinking this, my heart was revived.

During the time of dusk, I killed all of Wyzaf’s subordinates.

That would be the first Book that person will get his hands on. It’s me from a few hours ago.

Whether I am going to be killed now, how I will die, and what the people will say after my death – I know it all. But I deserve that punishment.

I have no intent to escape or to justify myself. No matter what kind of punishment I will bear, it will not compensate for my sins.

I do not think of this as scary. On the contrary, I’m overflowing with joy.

Except for the love of that person, I don’t need…”

Shiron stopped her words, and shook her head as if disappointed with herself.

“…I was trying to repent, but all that came out of my mouth were words of love for that person.

Aah, my heart is so sinful.”

With these words, Shiron stopped addressing the future.

“Chancellor Feelea.”

Shiron talked to a robust looking armor suit stand in the corner of the room.

“You can come out now.”

After she said this, a man wearing a priest’s garb came out of the armor. It was Chancellor Feelea.

“I apologize for keeping you waiting.”

“I don’t mind the wait, but… what were you just talking about?”

Shiron just laughed as an answer.

“Let us go. With Wyzaf’s death, the Indulging G.o.d Cult shouldn’t be able to move for a while.”

“Shiron-dono…”

Said Chancellor Feelea.

“Why don’t we just escape for now? You have already bore enough responsibility. If you were to go through a trial, you will surely…”

“It is fine.”

“Why?”

Shiron’s face was not resolute like always, but instead she smiled a bit bashfully, fitting for a girl of her age.

“Because that person didn’t fall in love with someone who would do that.”

Hamyuts finished reading that Book. She took it from Cigal with her blood-smeared hands.

Next to her feet, there was a collapsed man and another man who was on his knees.

The Magic Blade Shlam.u.f.fen was lying far away from these two.

Hamyuts was enduring the pain in her foot as she looked down on both men.

“…It… hurts…”

Said the kneeling man.

“It is unforgivable, this pain is unforgivable. It is a sin. A dreadful sin.”

“Cigal.”

Hamyuts said the name of the kneeling man.

“My soul is devoted to G.o.d. H-Hamyuts, ease my pain. This agony is unforgivable. Pull… pull out this knife, help me…”

Cigal clenched the knife stuck between his ribs.

Blood poured from his mouth.

Hamyuts judged that it wasn’t a wound that would lead to instant death, but he also wouldn’t turn out fine if he were to be left alone.

“Hey, Cigal-kun.”

Hamyuts said. She used her normal, relaxed tone.

“What was your doctrine… a human’s happiness is the happiness of G.o.d, and if a human experiences happiness then G.o.d is also happy?”

Cigal turned demanding eyes towards her.

“Right. It is exactly so. This is why it’s a mistake, a mistake…”

“So, you might have done a great job, Cigal-kun.”

After saying this, Hamyuts sat down. The collapsed Colio was in front of her.

His condition was terrible.

There were countless cuts across his body. His body was torn down to the bones.

He barely had the appearance of a human.

It was likely an instant death.

He probably didn’t even feel any pain.

Hamyuts turned Colio’s body over in a gentle way so he wouldn’t be torn into pieces.

Then, she closed his eyelids and mouth. This was the minimum courtesy towards comrades who fell in battle.

Colio’s blade definitely reached Cigal before Shlam.u.f.fen activated.

It happened after Shlam.u.f.fen laughed, after Cigal raised a miserable scream, and after he let the sword fall from his hands. The cruel Shlam.u.f.fen couldn’t let the person who tried killing its owner stay alive.

Because Colio didn’t make it in time, he couldn’t kill him.

This was the sort of victory only possible to achieve by the price of his life from the very beginning.

“Cigal-kun, you might have done a great job here.”

Hamyuts looked sadly at the face of the dead Colio that was wet with blood.

His expression was like that of a child sleeping peacefully. It was the face of someone who had not even a single regret.

“Doesn’t he look happy? Much more happy than you.”

“…This can’t be.”

The stunned Cigal looked at Hamyuts and at Colio’s face.

“This… is impossible. Why would a bomb be happier than me…”

“Who knows?”

Hamyuts picked up a fallen stone and flicked it with her thumb.

The pebble broke through Cigal’s skull, gouged his brain, and ended his pain.

“I wonder why. Eh, Colio?”

Hamyuts called towards the tattered body.

“What made you so satisfied?”

The storm was already over at some point.

Hamyuts noticed that Mattalast was coming her way from afar.

His black bowler hat flew off and his black suit was sticky with rain and blood. He held his side with one hand and the other one was barely holding a gun.

“Is it over?”

Mattalast said. He probably intended to fight even with his body’s current state.

“Yes. It’s over now.”

Hamyuts answered.

“Did you win? It was dangerous.”

Mattalast coughed. A spray of blood flew into the air.

“No, I was defeated. It was my complete loss.”

“Huh?”

“Those two have won.”

Hamyuts pointed at the corpse besides her.

“…Those two?”

“Colio and Shiron.”

The setting sun shone through the rift in the clouds once again. Hamyuts turned around and gazed at it.

Shiron was surely looking at this sunset, too.

And while looking at the sunset, she fell in love with Colio.

Hamyuts thought back upon the Book that Colio possessed.

She also had the backdrop of the sunset at that time.

It was truly a strange encounter of two people.

Shiron fell in love with the fighting Colio.

She, who was in love, went to fight and decided upon her death in the sunset.

Colio also fell in love with Shiron who fought at sunset.

He, who was in love, went to fight and grasped victory due to the sunset.

Their love came full circle.

Their pure feelings were paradoxical.

Among those two, who was the first one to fall in love?

“…Well, it doesn’t matter who.”

Hamyuts muttered.

Whether now, in the past or in the future, the redness of the sunset will not change. For them it was the only thing that mattered.

The two of them spent the same time in the unchanging dusk.

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