Chenis dazzles, as usual, to the house of his grandmother, who dwells in a house on the hill.
Carry water or take care of yourself for an ill-footed old lady who lives alone.
That's her job your mother told you about.
Chenis was bound to go to his grandmother's house every other day.
My brother Phil got tangled up in a mess this morning, so if I was dealing with him, I'd be out late.
Granny, you'll be waiting.
"Granny."
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha I opened the door and there was no look of my old lady in the dim house.
Instead, one boy.
The year is the same as Chenis, or about one down. sitting uncomfortably in front of a fireplace with fire.
"You, who?
Chenis asked.
I can't help but seep vigilance into my voice. Because it was like a boy I'd never seen before.
"What happened to your old lady?
The boy shakes his head like he's in trouble.
Grandma's not here.
"Why?"
"Who are you?
On the contrary, he asks me questions.
The boy stares at Chenis' face. Creepy.
"Who are you?"
Chenis said so, taking a step backwards.
"I am."
The moment the boy said it, the firewood in the fireplace, puffy, blew up with loud noises.
It was the limit.
Chenis flipped herself out and ran to a glance.
I wonder where the old lady has gone. Who the hell is that boy?
My vision seeped in tears as I ran.
Scary.
Scary.
Mother.
When she arrived home, her mother greeted Chenis gently, as usual.
"What's wrong, Chenis? So hasty."
"Mother, to Granny's house on the hill"
Chenis held her breath and looked up at her mother and said.
"I didn't have an old lady and instead I had a boy I didn't know"
"Oh."
Your mother keeps an eye out.
"I wonder who. You never heard that old lady had a grandson."
"But he was a weird kid. I didn't have an old lady, but she hit the fireplace on her own."
"It's been cold lately."
Chenis intensified her tone with her mother's fluent words.
"It's crazy, that kid. No matter who I asked, I didn't answer. On the contrary, I've been asked who you are."
"Yes."
Mother frowns like trouble.
"But what shall we do? Your mother can't go to that house, so she can't even go see how it goes."
Yes, it was. Your mother can't go to that house.
"You're in trouble..."
To block your mother's words, Chenis said.
"I'll go again. Go and ask her where the old lady is."
"Don't be too unscrupulous."
Your mother is only a worried face.
"It's okay, 'cause they're only with one boy, and if it sounds dangerous, they'll be running away again soon"
Leaving behind that, Chenis popped out of the house again.
I gasp out of breath to my old lady's house on the hill.
Will that boy still be there?
The door that should have popped out earlier with it open is closed.
That means I'm sure that boy is still inside.
Chenis opened the door thoughtfully.
In a dark room, the light of day plunges in.
No one.
"... Granny"
I'll call you inside.
It's not even a big house. You don't have to be sure there's no sign of people to figure it out somehow.
Still, Chenis called.
"Granny, aren't you there? Granny, it's me. It's Chenis."
"There's no old lady."
Suddenly a voice came from behind, and Chenis literally jumped up.
"Hih."
It was an earlier boy.
I have some firewood in my hand.
I use my grandmother's firewood on my own.
Accompanied by surprises, anger rises in Chenis' heart.
"You, who!
Chenis screamed.
"Where did you go with your old lady? What are you doing here?"
Like earlier, the boy slips through the side of Chenis with a slightly troubled face and enters the room.
"Don't take it personally. This is my grandmother's house."
Chenis was seriously angry with the boy who acted on his own as if he were his own home.
"Get out. Where did you get your old lady?"
Regardless of the words, after he had laid some firewood, the boy slowly turned his face to Chenis.
He had an indescribable look on his face.
"No old lady"
said the boy.
"I'm sure he died many days ago. Try going around the back of the house. Okay. From that way of collapsing, I guess the demon came out. I would rarely get out around here. I was unlucky."
Huh?
What? I'm sorry.
What is this boy saying?
Chenis didn't understand what the boy was saying.
"What are you talking about? I just met my old lady."
When I hear that, the boy gives me another indescribable look.
"There's no way. You know how rough this house is."
The boy spread his hands.
That's where Chenis first noticed.
The whole house is broken.
The floor is full of dust.
The fireplace in front of the boy has cracks everywhere, although the fire is in it.
"What, this"
Chenis lagged behind.
I don't know what that means.
What's going on?
'Cause the old man does have me with my old lady.
I couldn't figure out why, and Chenis ran away, turning himself over.
Scary.
I'm scared of that boy.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Mother.
Mother.
Help me, Mother.
But Chenis stops on the way.
I don't know the way home.
Even though it's the path I always follow.
It's not even supposed to be that divided.
I don't know which way to go.
Chenis, who was on his way, kept walking, and when he noticed he was in front of his grandmother's house again.
"You're back."
The boy waited in front of the house.
"... I can't go home anymore"
A boy gives that look again to Chenis' words.
"I happened to be on the street on my journey. This…"
The boy hesitated a little.
"To the abandoned house"
"Abandoned house......"
"I thought it was better than Nojuku. After spending the night, I was going to leave"
The boy saw Chenis.
"Then I met you."
That's what I say, I distract you from Chenis.
"You too..."
The boy hesitated a little again.
"You were killed here, too."
They killed me.
The moment I heard that word.
Behind Chenis' brain, the memory of the day came back to life.
Oh, yeah.
I rubbed a little with my brother Phil and left home late.
I ran all the way here, and when I opened the door, my old lady would.
My old lady.
"Yes, I am"
Chenis shrugged.
"They killed me here. To the furry demon. With my old lady."
Nature and tears spilled.
"Me, I'm dead. Here."
A boy stares at Chenis.
Chenis finally figured out what that expression meant.
That's the look on the face of someone mourning the dead.
"Tomorrow, I was going to leave already"
Looking at Chenis tears, the boy said.
"But I met you"
In the boy's eyes dwelt a dark light.
"In the terrain around here, where demons seem to live, there are generally stars"
Soon, in the boy's hand, a sword laid on his sheath was held.
A very long sword, like that used by adults, which is grossly disproportionate to the boy's back length.
"I'll take down the demon that killed you and your old lady."
The boy seemed to talk pale, trying not to get emotional.
"I'm sorry. I can only do that."
The boy bowed his head to Chenis.
"Sorry."
Chenis remained silent and stood up in front of the boy. I couldn't stop crying.
Unexpectedly, I felt someone call me.
A gentle voice.
It's your mother's voice.
Oh, well.
Chenis understood.
I can't be here anymore because I realize I'm dead.
I have to go where I need to go.
A boy is watching Chenis. With a spicy look.
"Hey."
Chenis told the boy. No more tears were shed.
"Tell me your name. And..."
Chenis felt her body wrapped in light. Very, warm light.
"I want to see your smile"
Not that sad, spicy look.
I'm sure, because I think he's a very nice, cool boy when he laughs.
"... Almark"
said the boy.
My name is Almark.
The boy laughed at me. Though I couldn't help but make it look like a crying laugh.
"I'm Chenis"
Chenis said.
"Thank you, Almark. Thank you for mourning me."
And Chenis disappeared into the light.
When Almark scratched down the fireplace, he weaved his cape.
How many more times do I have to think like this?
How many more times, if you eat your teeth off.
Can I get there? [M]
to the Nork School of Magic.
Far away.
South, too far away.
But Almark, who left the abandoned house with his long sword on his back, already looked like one warrior.