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Chapter 41 Part 6 – A deadly battle in the maelstrom. Mary tries to take the demon dog Gallam with her, while Bradd and Seraphy put everything on the line for the last hidden card. And then I learn the sad truth about the vengeful spirits that possess the Ruby

 

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Aquilegia

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「For every stab I endure, you’ll spare one of these kids!! It’s a warrior’s promise to another warrior!! You got that!!」

Even though he is older, he is still a child who is only around ten years old.
Still, he endured the fear and looked straight at the soldiers.
It is not a bluff. He is trying not to scare the little ones.

I could feel the blood drain from my face.
I had a hunch that this was the scene when the Light Bat Tribe fell to the Alliance of Nine Kingdoms.
The soldiers smirking and scoffing at the boy’s words were ill-dressed. They are out of control. They are neither regular soldiers nor professional soldiers. From their appearance, they are soldiers for hire, who are trying to make ends meet. It is these people who are prone to causing eye-rolling scourges against the weak.

「Brother Theo!!」 「Nooo!!」

The boy stoutly encouraged the crying children.

「….. Don’t worry. If I just hang in there for a little while, my father and the others will be here soon. They are the real warriors. They are the strongest on the continent. We have the blood of the proud Light Bat Tribe in us. So, trust me, look ahead, and run forward. You understand…..」

They are the children of the Light Bat Tribe …..!

Now then!! One!!
With a mocking tone, the tip of the sword was stabbed into the boy’s thigh.
The voices of the guffawing soldiers overlapped.

「····· Go!!」

Although the boy turned pale due to the intense pain, he still smiled and urged them on, then one of the children started to run while crying.

I’m up next. I gotta make sure this kid won’t change his mind and run away…..
With a cruel laugh, the next soldier pierced the instep of the boy’s foot with his sword.
It was a merciless, brutal blow. It probably damaged the boy’s foot to the bone.

「…. Next one go!! Run!!」

The boy named Theo reprimanded the hesitant children.
The next blow was swung down at his shoulder.

「…. Go on, now. Run over the hill. I’ll catch up later.」

The third child ran off over the hill, turning around repeatedly.
Theo waved his other hand that can still move, fought off the pain, and saw him off with an encouraging smile.

My whole body trembled with anger and sadness.
Theo was stabbed with a sword.
But the pain that pierced me a while ago was caused by an arrow. It was not from a sword.
I can feel the difference because I experienced so many stabs and shots in my previous 「108 times」.
My hair stands on end at the premonition of the worst tragedy that will strike next.
The children who had climbed to the top of the hill and started running down the other side were shot by arrows and rolled down the slope without being able to utter a sound. On the other side of the hill, soldiers were waiting for them.

From the beginning, they had no intention of keeping their promise to Theo.
As entertainment, they toyed with the lives of these desperate children.
The arrows that killed and wounded the adult warriors were too powerful for the little bodies of the children.
Not only did the arrow pierce them, they were also blown off as if they had been struck violently.
It was not possible for their tiny skeletons and internal organs to endure the attack. They died almost instantly.
This was the pain that had just pierced through me.

But this tragedy was not visible to Theo on the other side of the hill nor to the children who were about to flee.
The next blow cut off Theo’s ear, and the fourth child ran up the hill while crying loudly.

Stop it!! Don’t come this way!! There is an ambush!! Run away!!

I screamed at the top of my lungs, but my voice never reached them.
The fourth child was shot dead and fell down the hill like a ball.
Theo took the next blade, believing that he could let the fifth child escape.

It’s terrible!! Too cruel!! How could they ….!!

The flames of the vengeful spirits flickered sadly around me as I pound the ground and weep.

「….. It’s no use crying out. This is a tragedy that has already happened in the past. It cannot be changed now. ….. But you cried for them. For the sake of our children ….. we were going to kill you if you remained silent …..」

The big flame spoke in a somewhat gentler voice than before.

「…. You are a gentle girl who understands the pain of others. I think I understand why this ruby was drawn to you. I hope that you will never forget this. That there was a life that lived on despite being tossed about by an unreasonable fate.」

He spoke in a sorrowful tone.
I could do nothing but stare, trembling, as the last child was shot dead.
As if blocked by a thick glass wall, my voice does not reach that side and I can’t get any closer after a certain extent.

「Some of the kids would have made great warriors if they had lived. Some of the children would have become mothers who were kind and adored by all. It’s regretful …… but the most regrettable thing is …..」

The vengeful spirits choked up.
I saw Theo run out of strength and slowly collapse.

「….. I did it …. Everyone was able to escape …. As the son of the chieftain …. I did my best …. Father…. I’m sure my father and the others will take care of the rest ….」

Theo’s expression was one of satisfaction as he lay there covered in blood.
His hair, bunched up under his nose, was carelessly tossed away.
One of the soldiers hideously twisted his face and hurled words of contempt at him.

Your parents have died long ago. Look, it’s your father’s memento. The chieftain’s body was divided into pieces and brought back as souvenirs. Tell your papa about this. Tell him that you did your best hahaha!!

The soldiers burst into laughter vulgarly.
Tears began to well up from Theo’s wide-open eyes.

「…. Aaaahhh ….!!!」

The tips of their shoes trampled on Theo’s head as he wailed
The soldiers contorted their faces in amusement.

「….. On top of being poisoned, we were also ambushed and killed. We weren’t able to use the strength we had trained for the sake of those that we wanted to protect …… even though the children had believed in the arrival of us adults and had tried their best ….. That’s our biggest regret…….」

The flames of the vengeful spirits were wailing.
Scenes from the past continued cruelly.

Hey!! It seems that they caught a group of women over there!! Hurry up or we won’t be able to join in the fun!!

The soldiers became restless after hearing the words of their fellows who had ridden past on their horses.

We no longer have time to play with this dirty kid. Let’s just leave him.

With a vulgar laugh, they all left, leaving Theo behind.

「….. Father …. Father ….!!」

Clutching his hair and pressing it to his forehead, he cried for a while. Then Theo staggered to stand up on his feet.

「….. Father, don’t worry ….. We survived. The blood of the tribe will never be discontinued …. From now on, I’ll be the one …. To protect everyone ….. Just like what you did father….」

Theo limped over to the children who should be waiting for him on the other side of the hill.
A strip of blood followed his steps.
The setting sun shone sadly.

「After this, my son saw the murdered children and died in despair.」

The quiet words of the vengeful spirit were oozing with blood.

No!! There is no way I can tolerate such a tragic ending!!
I cried out like a spoiled child. I couldn’t stop crying.
There was no way I could accept that the efforts of such a courageous child to go so unrewarded.

「….. That’s right. That outrage at this kind of outrageousness is the origin of your power. It is the anger that comes from the kindness of shedding tears for others. You may have lost your memory, but you will never forget this feeling. Just like the proudest and kindest image that is engraved on your soul. I will help you ……」

Suddenly 「his」 voice appeared and encouraged me.
A bright light enveloped me.

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