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  ——the [Enemy] was huge. Just like what Riku had speculated, it was at least

  three times bigger than a human.

  Even though it was cloaked in black skin, the bulging muscles could be seen.

  Jagged teeth that nearly covered half of its face was exposed the moment it

  opened its mouth.

  Ivan laughed upon thinking that he would get to experience the monster's attack

  first-hand.

  Facing the monster, heading in a completely different direction from Ivan, Ivan

  could see the escaping Riku and Al ei.

  Attracted by the great movements as well as the loud shouting, the monster

  didn't notice Riku and Allei——

  "————ha, ha!"

  Ivan had to cry out loudly to attract the monster's attention. He then focused his

  attention on the escape route and picked up speed.

  The decoy mission was proceeding smoothly. The next step was to distract the

  monster a little bit longer.

  No matter what, the best outcome is the best right? After all....This is a human's

  last job.

  ——yes, his mission was over from here onwards.

  Only a single run left before the end of his life——it was really a simple task.

  "I'm sorry Riku——to leave you with such troublesome tasks."

  From now on, there would be more difficult, more precarious and more tedious

  jobs awaiting the person who was like his little brother(Riku).

  In the next few minutes, or maybe a few seconds later, he wouldn't feel as

  relaxed as this——

  "Ahhh, although this may be too much....But, could you please——damn it."

  ——Riku's pair of abyss-like dark eyes emerged in Ivan's mind.

  Even when staring at Ivan, there was——nothing shone out of it.

  No fear, no hesitation, not shaken, no sorrow, no pain. Nothing emerged.

  For this reason—he could be trusted.

  To throw away his life because of the command given by a young teenager.

  If necessary, his own life could be treated like garbage and toss away, if it was

  for the words of the black-eyed master.

  He believed that——he was going to use his life more effectively than anyone

  else. But——

  "I know this might weigh down on you——but Riku, aside from believing in you, I

  cannot think of any other way."

  So, I have to apologize. Because the reason you gave me to die....

  Actually, I shouldn't think about dying. My wife and my cute daughter are stil

  waiting for me back in the colony.

  No matter what, I must escape, I want to be with my family, enjoy the mundane

  happiness before dying.

  ——but, this.

  Dying in this place buried in aquamarine ash....What was the difference?

  "Ahhh, Ahhhhhhh....!!"

  Unfortunately, this was what Ivan thought.

  At this timing, to even be afraid of choosing happiness, was very unfortunate.

  Damn it. To die without a reason and to die involuntarily.

  "Sorryy, I'm very sorry! But, please, please forgive me——"

  ——in this broken, crazy and tragic world.

  Born without a meaning, to live in fear, and to get kil ed after finding a little bit of happiness.

  What was the point to live in this world if it continued endlessly?

  ——the one who answered this question is that boy, Riku.

  It was to protect your friends, protect your family——in order to achieve the

  future where the war would end, dying was fine.

  Fantastic. Simply perfect. The meaning behind one's own existence, what could

  be better than this?

  Even if I die, at least die in style right? Like that——I should shout it out..

  "——I! I wil die in order to protect my friends and familyyyyyyyy——!!"

  Okay——there was no need to be shy regardless of who that was intended for.

  This is too cliché. Only humans who were heading to their imminent deaths

  would understand this point.

  "Ha, ha! Oi, Riku! This era, when wil it endddd——!"

  There was no reply. He also didn't want to know the answer.

  ——as for [When], it would stil be strange to Ivan even if he understood.

  This world was so cruel that people couldn't hope.

  This world was so cruel that people could only despair.

  The past and future were distant, it wouldn't be related to the humans of today.

  But now, the only thing needed to be done is to desperately and continuously

  weave towards the future, to not tolerate any other reverie.

  Someone impulsively would definitely get eliminated like trash in the next

  second.

  "Ahh...."

  Just like this, keep running ahead.

  "Ah——Ahhhhhhhhhhh——!"

  Just keep going straight.

  As long as the body is stil alive, just keep shouting.

  Even if you fall on the way, someone else shall bear this burden.

  "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh——ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!"

  Humans, aside from this——

  "Ahhhh——————————ah!"

  Then, the shout disappeared.

  Part 5

  .....This was the era of——[The Great War].

  Humans were both weak and fragile, they couldn't survive as an individual, so

  they had to live together as a whole [Race].

  Personal feelings were ignored, everyone existed to survive as a whole.

  Working as a whole was a necessity.

  For this, although it couldn't be said to be the best, it was the step that gave

  them the highest chance to win.

  Through comprehensive and rational plans, humans could continue living——

  no, running.

  Covered with ash and mud, sacrificing their little happiness, discarding any

  bones——until the unknown day when the war ends.

  Because of this, the sacrifice of one person to save two others, sacrifice the

  minority to save the majority.

  Regardless of the one sacrificed, saving other persons in the colony was the top

  priority.

  Therefore, other means would not be considered. The one who implemented

  this——was Riku himself.

  From then onwards, he had never regretted it nor feel any remorse for it. But

  ——

  He sprinted full speed without looking back, until he fled to the forest which was

  supposedly safer. Suddenly——

  ".....Wuu."

  The feeling of an attack that felt like the stomach was dropping struck Riku.

  The memory of that man's face gradually blurred. He was feeling a sense of

  unbearable and strong sense of disgust for something. Ivan——was more of a

  man than he was. He was brave, thoughtful and considerate. In Riku's

  generation, there was no man just like Ivan. Nevertheless, it was love at first

  sight for his wife. Even though the marriage proposal was late, they were very

  intimate——

  These.

  Riku himself, has already.

  Used the past tense to narrate it.

  "Riku...Oi, Riku!"

  Al ei who stil had tears in his eyes violently grabbed Riku's shoulders.

  "Won't you collapse——with all that burden you are carrying?!"

  Riku however used soulless and dimly lit eyes to look at him——

  "Until then, when someone else inherits my job."

  Hearing those light words, Al ei fell silent.

  Then, the two of them who judged that there was no enemy after them, started

 
walking.

  With the colony as the target, they walked. The feeling of heaviness was not just

  due to the accumulation of thick dust.

  The things left behind. The things entrusted over. The things that have to be

  used to continue weaving——

  "....Hey, Riku. This kind of era.....When wil it end..."

  Both of them didn't know. It was the same question Ivan roared out in the last

  few seconds of his life.

  Riku couldn't answer this question as he looked up at the red sky fil ed with

  aquamarine dust.

  Suddenly, words that came from someone unknown flashed past his mind——

  [There will always be a tomorrow].

  The debris floating in the air that exuded a faint aquamarine glow quietly fell and

  started piling up.

  "Ahhh. It wil be soon."

  If they didn't have this mindset, if they didn't believe, even now.

  ————this heavy feeling, would probably pressure their knees.

  Part 6

  The roundtrip would take four days.

  To reach the motive [Colony], they had to descend down the aquamarine ash-

  fil ed wilderness into the depths of the forest blocked by snow.

  At the foot of the tall and steep hil , there was a hidden cave.

  From a first glance, it looked like it was a nest belonging to a beast.

  But once inside, there would be a few degraded pil ars and numerous hanging

  lamps.

  Riku removed one of those lamps and lit it up with a flint.

  Relying on the dim lighting from the lamp, they headed deeper into the cave.

  While paying attention to avoid any traps used to catch wandering beasts, they

  continued to press onwards. Afterwards, they saw an outer wall made with

  sturdy logs. The door was made to prevent lost bears or wolves from passing

  through.

  Of course, if the intruder was someone of the [Other races], such things were

  ineffective.

  Riku went close and knocked the door with a certain rhythmic beat——he then

  waited.

  Squeaking noise then accompanied the slow opening of the door, and the face

  of teenage boy who was donned in a fur coat emerged out.

  "Welcome back. It must have been exhausting."

  Riku and Al ei gently nodded their heads before heading into the door.

  "....Where is Ivan-san?"

  Silently, Riku shook his head.

  The guard held his breath, looking as if he was holding back something. He then

  said to Riku once more.

  "....It must be tough."

  .....

  Going through the door, the place started becoming spacious.

  Here and now——was a secret hideout that hid close to 2000 people.

  Spring water that gushed out from the depths of the cave solved the water

  problem, while livestock grown on the open areas solved the other.

  There was also an estuary that was connected to the shore, allowing salt and

  fish to be collected.

  Compared to the other humans outside that were kil ed due to meeting

  [Something], this was a fairly safe stronghold to live in.

  The thick layer of rocks here could only sustain at most the minimal force from a

  stray bullet coming from the war.

  ——of course, this was only a subjective thought.

  Riku walked along the wooden stairs into the colony.

  The residents working in the city square cast concerning eyes over to them——

  In the midst of a crowd, a young teenage girl ran over towards them.

  Although she was petite in stature, her blue eyes as wel as bright hair brought

  some life inside the cave.

  The girl who ran in front of Riku opened her mouth and called out.

  "Toooo——slowwwww! To what extent are you going to worry your big sister!"

  "We were trying our best."

  Riku lightly muttered as he laid his pack onto the ground.

  "Coron, did anything changed while I'm away?"

  "Can you call me Nee-san! How long must I emphasize before you knowwww

  ——"

  The girl known as Coron pursed her lips while nodding vigorously.

  "Well, nevermind. There isn't anything important that needs reporting——in any

  case, take off your dirty cloak and rawhide. A good wash is a must!"

  Coron unceremoniously knocked Riku who was covered with dust and said.

  "Al ei too. Rest wel !"

  Coron said to Al ei who was behind Riku while removing the mask and

  equipment from Riku. Suddenly, a figure appeared from the crowd.

  Before being questioned, Al ei replied.

  "....As for Ivan, he's dead."

  Coron was astonished, and at that moment——another voice from the other end

  of the square came.

  "Daddy!"

  Riku turned around and saw a young girl running over unsteadily.

  Seeing that figure, Al ei gasped.

  The breathless young girl that ran over gave Riku a bril iant smile while crying

  out.

  "Where's Daddy!?"

  "....."

  Riku couldn't answer.

  Shining hair and blue eyes, similar to her father's——Ivan's daughter.

  "....Nona."

  "Hey, Riku. Where's Daddy?"

  Nona tugged on Riku's shirt and asked.

  However, behind that cheerful face, she felt a little uneasy.

  "That, Nona....""

  Al ei solemnly walked over and opened his mouth, but Riku stopped him with his

  hand.

  At the same time, he used his gaze to stop Coron who was approaching Nona.

  ————it's fine. Stay.

  With a nonchalant tone, Riku said.

  "Ivan——your Dad, cannot come back anymore."

  ————

  As if not comprehending what the sentence meant, the girl widened her eyes.

  Facing against Riku's silence, the girl left from Riku's side, trying hard not to

  believe it.

  Big teardrops flowed down from her eyes, as her trembling lips opened.

  "———why———?"

  "......"

  "He said he would come back! Daddy asked me to wait for him obediently at

  home!? Nona has been a good girl——she has been keeping her promise!?

  Then why———why won't Daddy come back!?"

  "....Because he is dead."

  "LIAR!!"

  Nona's desperate cry echoed in the cave.

  "Daddy....Said he would come back, we promised!"

  Riku started thinking, from when all this began.

  ———he was unmoved even after hearing such a pained voice.

  "Ivan wanted to keep the promise too. But on the way, we met a Demonia, so he

  had to be bait."

  "I don't care about those things! Why isn't Daddy come back!?"

  ——Nona was correct, Riku thought.

  Why protect, what was the death for, this reason had nothing to do with her.

  She only knew, that her favourite Dad wouldn't come back——this was a fact.

  "Daddy said it before, that mankind would win!"

  "Of course we wil win. Ivan fought just for this purpose. To protect us——for the victory of everybody."

  Riku started thinking, from when all this began.

  ——he could calmly spout these emotionless words out.

  Nona's small face tightened.

  "That isn't victory! If that is victory——"

  "——Nona!"

  A sharp voice as wel as an outstretched hand covered the words the girl was

  about to utter out next.

  ——[Wouldn't it be better if Riku died]—�
�

  No one knew when a skinny young woman——Nona's mother, Ivan's wife

  appeared.

  She blocked her daughter's mouth with her hand and looked at Riku's face.

  Her pair of eyes didn't contain any resentment or hate. At that moment, Riku——

  touched his own chest.

  ——it's alright, no problem.

  "Riku...."

  Meranda——Nona's mother, used a hoarse voice to call out his name.

  Sorry——Riku was about to say on reflex, but he swallowed it back.

  "——Ivan became bait in order for us to escape, otherwise, the three of us

  would die. Because we believe that if the [Harvest] this time was brought back

  safety, Nona will definitely be protected."

  "....Thank you, Riku."

  Tears flowed down Meranda's face as she said that.

  Gently nodding, she carried her recently orphaned daughter back into the

  depths of the cave.

  Until their figure has completely disappeared from their eyes, Coron had been

  uttering our prayers for them.

  "....Ivan. He was a good person."

  ———yes, a great man. His wife too, was a great woman.

  No complaints, no anger, it couldn't be imagined how she believed someone like

  him.

  The daughter could see through things at once, it was obvious she was very

  smart.

  Because the girl at that time, clearly revealed his true colours as wel as his

  intentions——

  ——[Liar].

  "Riku!"

  Without warning, Coron held Riku with a considerate amount of strength,

  preventing him from falling down.

  "——welcome back. It's a blessing that you are okay..."

  ".....Ahh yes.......I'm back."

  Afterwards, Coron deliberately changed the subject with exaggeration.

  "Oooo——okay okay! The bath should be heated up by now, so go take a

  shower now!"

  "Shower!"

  Al ei happily cheered out. Riku frowned and said unhappily.

  "Isn't it enough to just wipe the body——waste of fuel."

  "O.Nee.-Sa.Ma asks you to go for a bath! You really stink oh!"

  Coron said as she smelled her clothing as well as the smell travelling in the air.

  Unable to resist anymore, Riku sighed and started pacing.

  Walking across the square to the deeper parts of the colony, an older man

  suddenly called out Riku.

  "Oh Riku! That useless thing can finally work!"

  "Simon how could you!! Now we are exposed!? I even wanted to surprise Riku!"

  "It finally works.....Unless, that telescope?"

  Seeing Riku's widened eyes, Coron puffed her chest out proudly and replied.