Seirei no Moribito

"-Leo, about Laura... please?

That was the first and last promise I made with the girl.

"Master!"

Three days after the village raid.

In the usual landscape as if nothing had happened, Al, a talented swordsman at Dojo One, held the wooden knife,

"- Why aren't you going to help my sister Laura!

It took me a long time to realize that the inquiry was directed at me.

Leo, who was unconsciously escaping reality, lowered the wooden knife he was obliged to shake,

"This is a village decision, Al? There's no way I can move with my own personal feelings."

"Why, Master! Sister Laura and her master would be friends. Then..."

"Al. Because Laura ruled the field as a“ witch, "Al and I can live. Are you going to step on Laura like that?

If you lower your voice and let go of the words, Al will change his complexion and lean down,

"... eh"

As it was, I ran away from the dojo with the other children who were watching things change.

Perhaps we'll go to the “witch” company again - where Laura is. Please don't die, to make a plea.

"... for nothing."

Leo was small, whining somewhere in disdain, then swinging the wooden knife again, swinging down the momentum well.

Hearing the sound of cutting through the louder sounding air than usual, I look back at how this happened.

It all started three days ago. Leo, who defeated the “protectors” of the “North Forest” to some extent before returning to the village, saw the villagers seeping relief in his grief.

Leo would not have been so shocked if it had been something that reassured him of the safety of the village and the safety of his family.

Yes, the look was from when Leo knew better - he boasted the assurance he had gained at the expense of others for his own cuteness.

I had a bad feeling.

Leo rushed to the village chief's house, where he heard the upside of the matter.

Said - in exchange for the life of the "witch”, we'd make a deal that there was no such thing as this rebellion.

It wasn't until right after that that that I realized I had been fitted. It was all for this time, only the prepared front seat.

"... really, I can't"

The words of self-derision are heard by no one, and echo the wide dojo,

"... Sorry, guys... Promise, maybe I can't keep it"

A scowl struck before anger at his impudence, and Leo sat down on the spot.

Leo was lost.

There is no falsehood in wanting to help Laura. But I'm only anxious about how far I can ideally help her with everything I do and do behind my back.

And the fact that my thoughts were being read is putting a stop to moving into action.

"... you don't have a face to match Niña."

What floats behind his heartbroken brain is the words of a girl who tried, hostile, and reconciled.

"Laura has a strong sense of responsibility. For the sake of the village, for the sake of everyone, for the sake of myself... no matter what sweet words you line up, Laura can't forgive herself. Laura can't forgive herself for letting someone else in red sacrifice herself for their own convenience. It's because you can't forgive me that Laura sacrifices herself, Leo. '

The girl, who could only live for more than twenty years, was always next to Laura.

Her first impression of welcoming Leo, who was able to move to the village, was that a bright smile at the bottom was a hostile girl in the back.

He shined like the sun next to Laura and did not condone anyone attempting to harm Laura. The girl who caught Leo taking advantage of Laura said this when she looked into her right eye, which had not yet healed her wound.

"You deserve it. And if you punish me, get out of here."

With her long brown hair appropriately wrapped and her eyes of the same colour narrowed to give the impression of a strong temper, the girl pointed at a weapon named Word. Of course, Leo wasn't frightened to that extent.

"If I use Laura, I will kill you. Even if that were impossible, I would lay a trap on the trap and definitely finish you off. If you still don't mind, you can do whatever you want. 'Cause I gave you advice.'

Leo gave up using Laura for the strength of his thoughts at the bottom. No, I didn't think I should.

The way I think of the girl's dear best friend overlapped with the spirits who admire me. But what surprised Leo more than that was that the spirits didn't show any vigilance in front of the girl.

In spite of all the hostility we've been subjected to.

So Leo trusted the girl.

She said - she'll never be an enemy, she'll be fine.

(... I didn't think Laura would really sacrifice herself. If you're the village chief... no, I can take down "Rainbow Wings” even now. Yet the village chief could not...... so this is the end point)

Against Al, it was the nail that told him not to do anything extra, but naturally Leo is going to help Laura.

I just shouldn't be moving right now. Now, Laura never tries to see anyone who comes. Both Al and the others and Leo, who come sneaking eyes.

Perhaps she's lost, too. Are you sure this choice was the right one? I'm trying to save the village from a sense of responsibility by trapping the fear of death in the depths of my heart.

And they believe in the village chief. The village chief said it couldn't be... "”

(But, Laura... unfortunately, my guess was right. I saw it in the woods. Unnaturally, the real “protectors" gather at my place.)

After letting Laura escape to the village, Leo could easily defeat the Guardian. But then a number of guardians who couldn't possibly be in the woods came together as if to stop Leo. Don't let go of the attack to kill Leo, just use the attack to really just stop him.

I went into the woods and solved Leo's many years of doubts. At the same time, it meant that the worst possible thing that we discussed with the girl would happen.

'... Laura is only a tool. Me and the villagers... maybe even you Leo. But we can't resist. The idea of defying even does not exist.' Cause... I respect you, Mayor. '

The girl was smart. That's why I questioned the existence of the "Spirit Tree” - made it a "tribute”.

I knew that, and still the girl was on Laura's side until the end.

I made a deal with such a girl, the first and last promise.

The option to break it does not exist in Leo. Personally, I can't let Laura die.

Not to hurt Laura any more. Because I don't want you to be like me.

Because unlike Leo, who has stopped trusting others since he was scolded for being heretical and has been fine and lying and deceiving, Laura was no different and pure.

"I'm on Laura's side until the end. That won't change if I die. Pure Laura who was not poisoned by this village and was really sweet and bright... because I want to protect my best friend '

The girl would have laughed. I'm sure until that last moment of death.

(... right, me too... I want to protect Laura. No more... because Laura doesn't have to be sad)

Leo now swore again to the late girl and rose.

The children, who remained the same for three days and headed to Laura's every day at lunch, do not come back to the dojo today. Think about how you can save Laura, wave a wooden knife to convince Leo in the morning, grieve at the reality that Laura won't come at lunch, and will go to the company tomorrow.

But one week after Laura's personality - until that time, when she approached four more days later, she never came out on the table.

Without exchanging words with anyone, Laura sacrifices herself to protect the village.

"... I won't let you do that."

Yes, at first, he hits and changes and with a lost sunny face, Leo groans, swinging the wooden knife down vigorously.

Take back the routine Laura liked, in case of that.

"Leo... don't be impotent because it's to protect Laura, okay? It's just like Laura, Leo, because you're going to sacrifice yourself... so am I. '

Thinking of a girl laughing like trouble.