I'm here.
I protect Ray's memory. [M] Never, never let me take away this memory again.
With strong determination and anger, and unwiped regret and sadness, I wake up in this world with my 'Ray' body borrowed.
For the first time, a world directly connected to your own will. In that world, not through him, I was surrounded by various groups of men and women of all ages.
"Good, sir. You noticed."
I woke up without the strength of such a tense face. It was a big man who gave me the look of relief by mistake of being 'Ray'. I've never seen him like this, but I've seen him through Ray. Yeah, I kind of knew who was here as well as him and what he was like.
I just didn't understand what he was saying.
So I ended up opening my mouth in a way that ignored him.
"I want you to take me to Arctia."
I speak only the ancient language they say. [M] That's all I know, and I don't understand what they're saying unless it's through 'Ray'. So I was fortunate to have someone in here who could understand the word.
"... you're not a kick-ass, are you?
A sharp eye looks at me. [M] I nodded slightly under pressure. [M] In contrast, the three of us looked surprised.
'Answer me. Who are you? For what purpose, did you take over Kitchick's body?
"I..."
A blue-haired girl who has asked several questions at a time. Next to it, two confused faces of the same town and a girl with a mixed gaze of hostility.
They all seem to understand my conversation with her.
Having said that in front of them, not knowing how to describe myself, I leaned down and looked for the right answer.
I... who is it?
Hitachi Ridge from...... Wouldn't be. I don't have any living past in that name. [M]
Or not even Ray.
However, if I were to describe my existence, it would have been Hitachi Ridge. His remorse and self-reproach continue to make me exist, even though I have lost my memory.
"... it's like a burning scum."
How else should I describe it?
It doesn't burn out, it just hides in the shadow of a tree and keeps its spark marginal. That's what happens when you come out of the shadow of a tree.
My burning cunt is small, miserable, and weak.
But even with me like that, I should be able to nourish him enough.
"I want to help him, Ray. As it is, he disappears'
"Does that mean Kitchick dies?
'Yeah, I'll be him. And he disappears. So I need your help. I want you to take me to Arctia. "
My appearance kept me connected to the flesh. So we're not going to die. There is only one consequence of his extinction that he will be taken in by me.
Me and him were originally one.
He broke up with me. The other himself. So he can't live without support. If you don't keep your own soul in something, it will collapse quickly.
Perhaps this collapse of your soul is due to your breakup with her. The support of his heart was shredded little by little, and at last the collapse began with its limits.
But my appearance brought me closer to the original form, and his soul began to absorb me, not to collapse. Little by little, I feel him pouring into me.
Waiting ahead is nothing different from collapse. It's the extinction of his personality.
'You said you wanted to help Kitchick. Why is that?
'Cause he's the only one for me. Nothing else.... My presence is empty.
Besides, I don't want to take him away. If I do that, I'm just like him. That's all, I absolutely don't like it.
So I want to help him. Now it's not hypocrisy, it's from the heart.
The only thing left for me to remember, to take my self away, to take my thoughts away is my connection to him and my regrets.
But that regret keeps me alive. That's why I have to go. to the land where I spent time with her.
'... Fine. Neither of us can do anything about you. Believe that word, only move to help Kitchick'
"Thank you, Mr. Sylvia."
I made an unfamiliar smile and thanked her. I didn't mean to use their help in the form of taking the other me hostage, but I'm not as strong as he is, so I'm sure I can't get there alone.
But I'm sure I'll try to save him. He is the last bond I have left. [M]
"By the way, what can I call you?
"Call me Hinata."
The name had no particular profound significance.
It was simply because that was once my name.
- The next day.
Quickly, we're leaving for Arctia. The companions were all there and the faces of the army of brave men. Then they follow the emperor and his entourage.
Before I knew anything about it, it had become a pretty big area.
The story I heard through Mr. Sylvia was about wanting to keep the brave people away from the imperial capital, where rebellion is particularly great.
So it seems Arctia was the first candidate to move it. Thanks. They say there's less rebellion there against the Brave Army. Even the emperor comes with me because I was told it was an official business and they didn't tell me the details.
They seem to be safer for a lot of people if they're both moving... but when a lot of people see them, they don't feel watched.
I guess it's true that you don't miss me or stop when you try to do something.
I can't stand around like this, but maybe it's because he's the one I took over. But even now, this country is rough. We need to be careful not to get killed without question.
Looking at them slightly more alert that way, Mr. Sylvia approached me with something in his hand.
"Hinata, put this on"
"What's this?
"This is a magic tool that allows you to communicate."
Handed to me was like a bracelet wrapped around my arm.
Wow. I wrapped it around my hand without any suspicion, while I was a little moved to see if I could speak without knowing the words with something like this.
Then, looking at it, I felt hostility fall just a little out of her eyes.
"... honestly. Didn't you think that was a trap?
"Eh ⁉"
It was a lie ⁉ ⁉ I had just decided to be vigilant... I failed quickly...
"Liar. Because it's really just a magic trick that allows for communication of will."
"Oh, yeah, it is."
If you do say it, the words you hear are different. But just like when I was putting him through, I just know what it means.
Is this the power of this demon? It's a very handy tool.
"But I trusted you a little bit. It's enough to take him over. If someone like that was on guard, it wouldn't be a trap to this extent."
"Ha ha... that's good"
I honestly didn't know if I was happy, so I leaked a dry laugh. Let's be a little more cautious.
For them, I am an enemy.
I was the one who hung my guard up like that, but it was quickly seen through, and she said with a grin to forgive me for that.
"I will not harm you until I save him. From here (...)"
Apparently... For starters, I felt distracted and it seemed good. It didn't look like she was lying, and I can't think of a reason to lie.
Because if I don't do harm, I'm not the bad guy for them.
They say it'll take roughly a month to get to Arctia. In the meantime, I will be traveling in a carriage. It was a very helpful measure for me when I just got my body, but I can't be honest with you because it was a treatment that I could handle being suspicious and locked up.
I was alone there the first week. There was nothing in particular to do, and it was a trip with pain in the butt from time to time to the rocking carriage. Occasionally I glanced outside in my spare time and there were people around who seemed strong surrounded the carriage a little...... I was a lot scared, but I kept words of labor saying 'thank you, dear'.
That's how the boring week ended and the day I entered week two. People came in the carriage. The man was Mr. Luxeria.
All of a sudden I was surprised, but he was a gentleman and he spoke to me gently.
"Can I ride this carriage, too?
"Oh, yes, go ahead. It's not mine."
"Well, that helps."
He seemed so sweet, but I was a little nervous because I knew this guy was such a strong guy.
In addition, silent pressure, or what you see as observing me after riding the carriage, makes my nervousness unnecessarily heightened when I'm unfamiliar with dealing with people. Besides, I'm getting scared.
He finally opened his mouth after a few minutes, staring away from me, which shrunk gradually like that.
"I heard you took over my husband's body."
I nod back nervously and quietly. [M]
"And I heard you said it was to help my husband."
Nod again.
"I am so thankful that I cannot return it to my husband. So let me help you. Let's save my husband together."
It was the word of a strong man. It's not the word of a weak man like me, it's a strong word with a core.
"Oh, you know, doesn't Mr. Luxeria think I'm lying? Everyone else suspects..."
"... I've been thinking about you for the past week. My knowledge, your words. I thought about it a lot but as a result... I didn't know. But I remember the first time you woke up. Your eyes were just like mine back then. If you don't want your eyes taken away, it's the eyes of those who scratch their feet desperately."
Well... this guy is someone who's taken something different from me. I remember. He has ideals with his loved ones.
To take it back, there is now Mr. Luxeria, as a result of continuing to scratch by no choice of means.
Such a person told me that I had the same eyes as myself. I don't want to be deprived of any more. The thought will be the same.
But unlike him, there's not one thing I can take back. [M]
"I... am not like Mr. Luxeria. I'm not prepared and willing, like you, but I can only summon you if you don't like it like a child."
"... I don't know what you've been deprived of or are about to be deprived of. But I know it's irreplaceable to you. On top of that, you said you would save your husband. [M] So I'm going to believe you."
I was so glad to hear you say that with straight eyes, not out of sight.
It could be the first time since I woke up. What made you happy?
I've never known it to be such a pleasure for people to believe it.
"Oh, thank you. Believe me."
I feel a little less nervous. At the same time something sprouted in me. I didn't know if that was a bad emotion or a good one.
But I just got a little jealous. The other me.
Then Mr. Luxeria became my talker. The story ranged from public stories that had no other love to the relationship between me and Ray. The public discourse, in one way or another, was in such a way as to be taught, but it became a one-sided discourse about my relationship with Ray.
Ray and I were originally one soul. That his soul is about to break because of it. As far as I can tell, I told him.
Mr. Luxeria just nods with a difficult face, and I don't know if you understand...
Then, after a while, there were more new carriage companions. Now the two of us. I remember feeling nostalgic somewhere, two in the same town.
"... all of a sudden I'm also resistant to hearing this... you know, Hinata. There's only one thing we really need to check with you."
Yes, it was Haruki who started talking when I got in the carriage. Haruki was scratching her cheeks with her misguided fingers so as to tell her something difficult to say.
Meanwhile, the other girl who came aboard, the coat, held her hand firmly on her lap, had a face like she was ready for something.
Haruki once saw the face of the knit and then looked at me and said something hard to say.
"You must be Ridge yourself too...?
More strength in the fist of the gown.
"... sorry, that's not me"
The other two known ridges have died. It really is.
We don't remember them at all. I just feel a little nostalgic, and that's no different than the impression I have of a city I haven't visited in a long time.
Hitachi Ridge, who has already spent time with these two, is dead. Let's go back to Hitachi Ridge, where I spent time with Serna.
I'm already dead.
"... well. I'm sorry to hear that."
You didn't originally have great expectations, Haruki was really clean. I immediately apologized hand in hand that it was my mistake.
But even if it wasn't big, it didn't seem like the knit that had expectations that weren't small either. A muscle of tears spilled out of his eyes.
But that's all. She was never disturbed as before.
When she noticed her tears, she wiped them with her hands and immediately apologized 'I'm sorry' with a smile that had not wiped away her grief.
Seeing her like that raises a question in me.
I wonder what they think of Hitachi Ridge's own death.
It is synonymous with us that Hitachi Ridge is already dead. I don't know what the difference is. But what do they think?
I wonder if they think they are from Hitachi Ridge, even those of us who have lost their memories and are no longer able to remember.
That's why I asked.
I thought I shouldn't ask, but I just wanted to ask.
While I'm me.
"What was that person like?
In return, they looked at each other. I didn't seem to expect it.
"He was our childhood friend. Good guy... you weren't. I'll forget about people, I'll avoid them, but it wasn't him.... but he was a dear friend to me."
"Yeah... he was important. But we couldn't help him until the end. I couldn't even be on my side. So... I really want to see you. Just one more time, I want to see you and talk to you. I know from my head that I can't do it anymore. But I really, really can't give up, and even if I come here, I'm gonna look for him.... you sound stupid, don't you?
They didn't look good. But I didn't try to divert my attention, even though I spicidly connected the words.
These two are about to face death, aren't they?
... I wonder. I wonder if she's facing death. I wonder if you're still looking for a way out.
... I didn't get it.
But I could tell that I was still there when they disappeared. At the same time I felt happy about it, it was also heartbreaking.
"Thank you, for talking to me. I'm sorry I suddenly asked you this."
Thank you so much for not forgetting me. I'm sorry that you're in pain.
Though he can't tell the truth because he doesn't want to tell it.
I just wanted to say thanks and apologies.
Time passed calmly, rocked by a cataclysmic and rocking carriage.
For me, it flowed in a limited space in the carriage. An instantaneous event in a very narrow world of about two or three metres in all directions.
But it was enough time and place for my heart to be filled.
- I want to stay with them a little longer.
When I started to think so, the carriage stopped shaking. To go with that, I also interrupted a fun chat. If you clear your ears as to what it is, what you hear is the voice of people. Numerous nostalgic words entered my ears and I heard people talking to Gayagaya.
It wasn't a conversation where the lookouts around us were free and chatty, it was something close to a messy conversation that overflowed the city.
I was wondering if we got to the arctier, a little peek outside, where it's still outside the city. But there were plenty of people around, scared-faced adventurers and small fat merchants waiting in order to enter the city.
Looks like you're in town.
"Do it or something. My ass is so fucked up. I miss the car seat."
"Right, I miss you. Various...... Still, a great number of people."
There, the city entrance and exit. The gate, which opens only in one place on the outer wall, is pulled up in large chains and the door is exchanged. On behalf of the gate, soldiers checked the identity and belongings of those entering and leaving the city, and a longer queue was in place.
Through their side like that, we are led all over the city without being in line. That's where the emperor, the brave man, comes in line? I feel sorry for you, but I'm thankful you don't have to be in a long queue.
On the other hand, however, the faces of the soldiers being questioned are either out of tension or tense. Failure is not tolerated in front of the Emperor, Hishihishi, from his expression.
And so they led us into the city of Arctia, the academic city.
"Wow......"
Diving through the gates, it was a different world. Unexpectedly the exclamation leaks.
School City Arctia?
I'd give it a different name.
Magic City Arctia and.
Everyday clothing for the people of this city seems to be dominated by long robes and tongari hats and wizard-style outfits. Most people walk with books in their hands, and many in this world have worn unusual glasses. Maybe such a place deserves the name of a school city, but the impression is still that it deserves the name of a magic city.
The city was overflowing with flying carpets, animals made of water and fire, and people traveling on board.
Not only that, but I can't help but feel a magical impression from the strange paintings that incorporate letters and pictures and from the eye-catching, shape-shifting fountains.
Obviously it was a heterogeneous sight compared to other cities.
…………
I was blinded by the city. [M]
There's a city like this in the world, and I thought I knew what it was like to be the other me.
But at the same time, I couldn't help but wonder if it was really here.
Anxiety is stirred up by the streets that are too unrecognizable. I came here relying on the only clue he found, but I heard a voice at the time when I felt disappointed that it wasn't here.
- I'm fine. I'm not wrong.
My heart bounced.
It could be a fantasy I've created. But it did sound to me. Her, Serna's voice.
"⁉ ⁉ ⁉ ⁉"
Unexpectedly shout her name. And I moved my gaze hard. I search desperately for an unlikely figure of her, calling her by her name many times.
But...... as corroborated by the fact that it was empty ears, they were suspicious from around and her appearance was nowhere in it.
It was just a swell of regret and sadness in me that I couldn't help but say.
"Oh, hey, what's going on, suddenly?
"... yeah, it's nothing. It was my fault.... Sorry, just leave me alone"
I told Haruki I was worried, and I walked the city alone. I noticed they looked worried about that back, but now I wanted to be alone.
I knew I wasn't facing her death. [M]
I'm still looking for her voice, unacceptable.
Sorrow conveys cheeks. Regret seeps red into your lips.
Until just now, the lively, interesting city that made me feel fun, was now terribly uncomfortable.
As I fled from there, I wandered to the back of the city for serenity.
How long I walked, I stopped in front of someone sitting on the ground in the corner of the city painting.
A peek at the person's painting left it on a bright white campus where nothing was painted yet. You're about to write now, the person has a brush in his hand.
I realized I'd come a long way back there. With cheeks, the tear marks had completely disappeared and the lips had a sore lid.
I've... settled down a lot.
When I thought it was time to go back, the painter's brush moved and a small pattern was written on top of the bright white campus one after the other. Pattern shapes vary, nothing the same as one, and shades are really vibrant.
Little by little, the campus, which was really slow and bright white, becomes one beautiful painting.
I watched it somehow. [M] Not because the painting was so good and beautiful.
However, I kept an eye on the campus, which gradually buried itself in the pattern.
and I heard footsteps interrupting at a calm time when only the sound of a painting brush could be heard. The footsteps get louder and louder and stop behind me.
- Give it back.
"What...?
It was sudden. Behind me, who accidentally leaked a dumb voice, there was a slightly lit face, a breathless blonde girl.
"I won't allow you to run away. You said it. When I brought him here, he said he'd give Mr. Kitchick back. So give it back."
Her eyes seemed to see revenge. I told her I wasn't going to run away, stuck with words. [M]
"I'm not going to do that. I just wanted to walk around the city. So, don't worry. Because he helps."
I was a little scared, but I knew she was worried about the other me. So I laughed to reduce my anxiety. [M] But...
"... please don't. Mr. Kitchick doesn't say 'I'! He's strong, he looks good with a smile, and when I'm about to cry, he's a kind person to stroke my head! You, fake, don't talk in that voice, don't laugh in that face! With that body, don't be nice! That body is not yours. Give it back to me, Mr. Kitchick."
She screams out loud and blames me. I heard a noise behind me knocking something down, melting into the tranquility of the city.
- What were you thinking, me?
I was running away from facing him, postponing my readiness for a little more, a little more, and wanting to stay a little longer in this full time.
She's right.
They treated me nicely for the other me.
Nothing more or less.
In the end, I stayed empty.
"... right. I'm the only one standing in your way."
Let's not immerse ourselves in a sweet world anymore.
I'm just a leftover cunt.
There is no room for me to enter his presence. [M]
Nobody wants that.
Let's get this over with. My weakness has grown for him. [M]
At least it meant something to him, to them.
"... let's go. To save him."
The painting I saw when I left was stained black with overflowing paint.