I reacted to the words of the mayor of Omura.
"Is that - if you solve it, it doesn't make sense to dedicate it to what you should"
"... right"
"When can you solve it?
"I don't know. It's just that five to two years during my life - it's shrinking rapidly. Five, ten or thirty more years... but it won't last fifty years..."
Not so far away in the future, the Nine-headed Dragon will be unleashed.
A dragon with nine necks as big as a mountain. A monster that kills just by spreading poison close...
Luminous territory would be in big trouble if something like that showed up.
Seals that are already losing their effect.
A woman's voice and tears to rejoice that her life had been saved.
If it is...
I spoke to the Mayor of Omura with my quiet determination.
"... when can you solve it?
"What?"
The mayor of Omura opens his mouth.
"So I thought it might be fifty years away."
"No."
I shook my head.
"If you don't dedicate that woman to the cause, it's the day that the Nine-headed Dragon will be resurrected."
――
The eyes of the Great Mayor and Laura open.
"Well - what does that mean? Unseal the nine-headed dragon, you mean?
"Anyway, is it a seal that you can unseal soon? You can solve it now."
I didn't want to tell that woman to die again - I couldn't be.
Then it would be worth a try.
... I learned on this journey that apparently my magic arrow is strong enough to help people.
"I will defeat the Nine-headed Dragon"
Shin, and the room quieted down.
Laura makes a panicked voice.
"... so, but, Mr. Alberto! Nine-headed dragons die of poison just by getting close!? How -!?"
"You forgot, Laura. The range of my magic arrow..."
For the second time today, I said...
"Ah, 13km! You're okay!
"... oh..."
I was interrupted by Laura.
Apparently, they remembered me.
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇
"Legend has it that the seal weakens every time we celebrate a crescent moon night. So the Nine-headed Dragon awakens in the next crescent moon - that is, three days from now."
"Okay."
"… if you are willing to offer your life, please make your decision by that morning"
After talking to the village chief, me and Laura moved to the empty house provided.
Put your stuff in the room and take a breath, and I'll talk to Laura.
"Hey, Laura."
"What is it?
"... Am I wrong...?
I'm about to make a hell of a bet - that's foolish for me to know.
Though I don't know when I can unseal it, at least I can still maintain it. That would give this Luminous territory a temporary peace.
Drop it and decide on a battle at this moment now.
"If I win - what happens if I lose"
Nine-headed dragons will ravage this village - no, they will bring ruin to the entire territory of Luminous.
I know.
I know. that there are many people on the territory of Luminous.
- Hey, Mr. Alberto! You can eat as much as you want!
About the villagers who said so casually.
There are people in this land who live their days to the fullest. I live a day full of whispering happiness.
If I lose, their lives will be shattered, too. They will die and their homeland will be fouled by poison.
Do I have the right to shake their days of peace?
"Is it right to dedicate your life?"
So I can maintain my peace for a while.
Just one person - just one person - most likely the life of one woman.
It is not comparable, for example, with the years of peace of a large number of the inhabitants of Luminous.
If you are in a position to rule, you should say so.
Die for everyone.
That is the readiness to govern the territory.
"But I can't do that."
It's still in my ear.
The voice of joy, free from the fear of death, of the woman who saved her. Tears.
I couldn't tell that woman to die.
I couldn't tell you to die for the Luminous people.
At that time, I couldn't close my eyes to the feeling that I was really glad to help her.
That's why I thought.
The woman also helps.
Everyone in Luminous territory also protects.
I'll...
He said he was going to defeat the Nine Head Dragon.
But the opponent is something with the name 'dragon'. I don't know if I can really win.
"Am I disqualified as the next principal- Am I making the right decision?"
I was scared.
Considering that there are countless lives on top of this judgment.
Knowing there are countless lives on top of this judgment.
Laura, who was listening to my voice with a serious look on her face, said she was a little pondered and then pounded.
"... I don't know. But..."
Laura keeps talking.
"Death to that woman - I think it's an easy choice. Just use one life to turn it around later. I don't think we've solved anything. The fact that the Nine-headed Dragon will eventually wake up will remain the same, and many more women will be dedicated to it."
That's right. Nothing changes.
And the tragedies that follow from the past.
And the tragedies that happen in the future.
"Mr. Alberto thought it was terrible, didn't he? You wanted to help, didn't you? You wanted to change, didn't you?
That's right.
That was my initial impulse.
I wanted to tell anyone who tried to accept an irrational death for nothing to do without dying.
You don't have to cry anymore.
"Trying to help the people in need! That feeling - I want to think I'm fine! I'm just trying to help one person, Mr. Alberto! Mr. Alberto trying to make that effort! I don't want to laugh at that feeling, I'm stupid!
Laura's words echo my heart.
That made me feel brave and expensive.
"Why don't you just win! We just win! Ancient dragons, but whatever! Mr. Alberto can win!
Laura continued.
"Because Mr. Alberto has always turned despair into hope!
I managed to do it myself. You have to work hard. We have to do something about it. That's what Laura told me about the pile.
Words echo in my ears.
- I believe Mr. Alberto to be such a hero more than anyone!
From that day on, I wanted to be Laura's hero and kept walking.
If Laura's gonna believe me...
"I believe! Mr. Alberto's victory! Win nothing and come home for the future! - And I want you to be a lord who will try to save 100, not 99 of the 100!
Laura's words are over.
Silence descends like a satchel.
My heart was clear. Every single word of Laura got into my mind. He paid for the cloud of anxiety that was spreading.
... Right.
I'd be tempted if I were weak, but I'm sure Laura's hero won't give in on this.
Then so will I.
"Thank you, Laura"
If you're Laura's hero, here's what you should say.
"I'll win. And let me try to save everything"
Laura nodded at me with a full smile.
"Yes! Mr. Alberto can do it!