Disclaimer: Written by Rime. Translated by Arcana. Approved by Rime to transfer from pixiv. The characters were not owned by the writer nor the translator. Characters were borrowed from the players of MHD. To members of MHD, if there are any problems, there would be no problem in removing.
Chapter Notes: The Genealogy of Hunters 10-1: Case Falt + All cast
Characters: Falt, Nobutuna, jack, Lamia, Billy, SEVEN, Ash, Riku, Sky, Carry
Chapter Summary:
Falt and Lamia tried to escape from the Order of the Black Beast, but it wouldn't be easy. jack got in-touched with Nobutuna, and the two of them began their search for their masked friend. Meanwhile, Billy, SEVEN and Ash found a huge barrel in the dump site, and inside it was...
That, was probably, a belated cull.
On the eighth day, the village master brought a hunter to his house. The hunter took the hand of him who was pointed at by the master, without changing his expression like a stone. Where are we going. He asked. To a far far place. The hunter answered. The village master said nothing.
His father and mother huddled together, shaking by the entrance. This was his first time seeing his parents cried, without knowing what was happening, anyway, his body wanted to run away from that place. The hand holding onto him was big, by the side of his parents which were crying as they looked towards him, the hunter with a stoned expression walked passed them without saying anything. Falt. Hearing the screaming voice of his mother, his body jumped up, but he was being dragged along. Falt, Falt. His mother cried over and over again, his father couldn't resist hugging his mother, and he aslo, Falt, called his name. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
With the voices of his parents becoming, far and distant, from his back, the expression of the hunter after all with moving only a little, walked straight. The steps were large, and he was barely enough to catch up with him in trots. When he knew that the life till now collapsed at a stretch, they arrived ahead of the forest and hills, near the great forests, at a cold and gloomy place and the hunter let go of his hand.
Falt. The hunter called his name. This was his first time seeing this person. He had never seen him before.
You must not go back.
You must not return.
You must never see your parents again.
Why? Towards the natural question of the kid asked, the hunter gritted his teeth hardly once, and put his hand on his head.
You are being abandoned.
It is your parents entreat, not to kill you at that place.
In the end, the village master has arranged in the form like this to return to the nature.
I'm sorry. The hunter said. His voice was cold and firm. The village no longer has the resources, only to feed you anymore. The truth is any child will do. There are also several people, as candidates, but they have all moved to another village or other towns. Still, it is not enough. Because there are no one else your parents are able to rely on, they couldn't anymore but do so.
I"m sorry. The hunter said. If I am stronger. Oh, at that time, the child took it vaguely that this person was the hunter of his village. They were rare in the exclusively of all villages or towns, didn't have many chances to meet children, because they were basically almost hunting every day. They may not also wanted to show the parents the weapons, and the bloody armors.
I'm sorry. I should have become you. But if I become you, there will be no hunter, to protect the village. It takes time until the next dispatch. The village is less likely to stand till then. He did not understand what he was saying. It was too difficult, he could not understand.
Why, can't I become stronger. Why can't I return the favor to the village. Why... must such a small child be sacrificed, why can't I protect even a child... For an instant, an hoarse voice. On the cheeks of the hunter of the expression such as a stone, tears dropped. Then he just turned around suddenly, and left him, deep inside forest where he did not know the path.
What he left behind, was a bow, and one quiver, packed full with arrows to the limit. On the possibility that couldn't be seen, he gambled a hope named despair, or was that merely, a self-satisfaction.
That, was probably, a belated cull.
The meet-up place was deep inside the forest. It was the place he knew most. Though it was a place with many obstacles, there would be no problem if he grasped the growth of branches, and the way of falling on them. Rather because he was used to it, the fort of nature was his field. Choosing branches to downfall, he ran as if flying through the sky.
It was several days after the information of the Order of Black Beast were leaked out to the Hunters Guild. The Guild Knights had moved two days before. It was a matter of course for them to be found out. Still, Falt was convinced that he was able to be covered up for a few days, was because he had postponed the day for them. It had gave enough time for them to prepare.
The time for Lamia to come to the meet-up place, was five minutes after the moon raised. If this was missed, meeting up would be difficult. His cousin that lived in the village nearby, was brought up as a well-experienced hunter, but there was a lack for her to fight against the beasts deep inside the forest, and against the same well experienced hunters of the Order. If by the two of them, they might be able to run to the direction of the town somehow. It was hard for the Secret Guild to make or take movements if there were many people.
Snapping the branches, holding onto the vine with one hand, he ran in the forest cutting through the wind. He landed on the ground, and ran only straight forward.
An arrow went through a little before his footwear. An arrow with a bell. He stopped and grasped it. It was Lamia's arrow.
A signal, telling him not to come.
(...Am I too late?)
A cold sweat broke out. Changing the course where he was going straight, he went to the waiting place, sneaking around it. Holding his breath, silencing his steps, he looked down at there from a big tree. He could see Lamia being surrounded, lowering her bow slowly.
Eight people. It was a number hard to face.
(...What should I do)
His back was sweating, and he thought desperately while pacifying his hasty heart with his sense. If she was caught, it was obvious that she would receive horrifying tortures that couldn't be told. Could Lamia be able to keep herself at that torture. No, let alone himself, even Nobutuna gurgled, and surrendered. It would be very hard for her, without that experiences to keep her mind.
Then, there is only one thing for me to do.
"Lamia!"
She is a smart child. Surely she will understand.
Jumping down, drawing the bow he held at a stretch, he pulled out a great number of arrows. It was a distance hard for him to use them as tools to kick the opponents around. Still, pulling an arrow, Falt looked at Lamia.
"Falt,"
"Run, getting off the cliff ahead is a village"
"...,"
"Listen... For the moment even the guild is enemy, they are enemies also, but, there has to be friends"
There has to be.
"...Endure it... One week will be the limit"
"...,"
"Go!"
The instant he cried, the arrow snapped. Without hesitation he drew another once again. Spread, spread, spread. Do not approach. The arrows shot continuously, pierced through the people who were going to escape. A sign of starting to run in the rear. Don't let her go, chase, he shot the human in the forehead while he was shouting.
Still killing a person, was up to this point.
(Nobutuna,)
Please, take care of Lamia.
I beg you, find her.
Inside a room prepared by the guild, a man was sitting there when he entered the dark room in silence.
He had seen his face before. Yet he had not met him before. He must have appeared in documents or something similar. Because he was a man drawn by professional artist, he must be a famous person, he thought.
"...There's something I want to hear from you"
"Oh"
The name did not matter to him. If it was only a relation like this, it was not necessary to tell him. Thus, as such as the guild had prepared a room for them. It must be a substantial talk.
If he thought about the reason why he was called, he could predict that it was related to the story he prepared. There were many times so far. This was a fruitless hearing.
"Do you know of the Garuga mask with one eye"
Nobutuna stared at the man in silence. Every hearing till now, were mostly from the mercenaries, royal knights and the Guild knight. He who was in front of him now, could only be seen as an extremely normal hunter.
He was not able to predict what intention did he have, asking that question. It was all right if he was an acquaintance, but Falt didn't have much relationship with the outside. He could not see any possibility. It was too dangerous to answer the question easily in the present situation.
"...Please explain it in details"
"Take a seat"
"No thanks"
"You're careful"
"You must have heard about my story. Though I have escaped already for one year, they are not a gang that will keep a promise. I'm still being aimed by the Order of Black Beast. An evidence that can proof you not being one of them can be found nowhere"
"...I'm jack"
Saying so, he finally recalled who he was. If his memory served, he was a man who was highly praised for what he developed in an academic conference. In no time, he was being called as G rank doctor among hunters. It was the name of the person, who invented the restorative, called Lifepowder.
"Why is a doctor like you, looking for a person"
"It's simple. Because that Garuga mask is my patient"
"...Patient...?"
Why would he of the Order, consult a general famous doctor. Would it be an unusual injury. If it was a considerable injury, he couldn't have been able to move. However, the friend he met again for a moment on the snow mountain, shot with his bow without any problem.
"He is aiming at restoring the lost eye, but he abandoned it half-way. If it continues like this, the process can't be followed. The possibility of becoming blind again is not zero."
"Why do you help a man from the Secret guild?"
"Because he protected me."
Though there's actually, a few mistakes. He chuckled, and tossed a white bag onto the table. It must be the lifepowder.
"I owe my success in developing this to him"
"..."
"A lot happened, and because of him, I am able to safely keep the authority of this. And he, is now no where to be found. He disappeared without saying anything. I haven't even thanked him... These are the two reasons that I must find him"
"I don't know how much of that is true"
"You really are careful..."
Of course. Despite the fact that he was a famous hunter doctor, there was no evidence proving that he was not connected with the Secret guild. Noble families, high rank clergymen, the head of a race, and high rank hunters. The evil power of the Secret guild extended to every places.
jack laughed.
"But, you know Falt"
"..."
"No matter whether I am with or not with the Order, the action of hiding, does not make ends meet without something to hide. You intended to getaway, but it's coming out from the end-to-end of your words. Though I think you're trying to hide the facts, you don't seem to be such a skillful person at this"
"..."
"...I told him last that I would pray for him"
The process was not necessary. jack weighted both the mistakes and the answers that sensitivity led equally together. It was up to one to choose. It would be commenting it as up to the feelings.
"You are the second one that have said such things to me, he said"
I have betrayed the first. Therefore, I'll never betray the second one anymore.
"You are the first one that Falt confessed"
Silence for a little while, observing with hostility, as an exchange of the strong eyes, Nobutuna lost finally.
"...I'm really weak at something like this..."
"...Weak?"
"It's possible for me to remain silent, but telling and tricking with lies, I'm really weak at that. Falt always scolded for me for that. If I can do it, it could have made living in the world better, but, really, somehow even deep inside my stomach feels restless. I will feel sick."
He dropped his shoulder and sighed, then he sat on a chair in front of jack. Unloading his long sword, leaning it against the desk, in spite of him, Nobutuna took a cigarette out from his pocket and lightened it. If you like one, here, he held out. Somehow or other he seemed to be a considerable smoker too.
"I'm Nobutuna."
"...'
"I've met Falt recently. It's been a long while... It was on the snow mountains, in the middle of a mission. It was a mission to coil the Secret guild. He told me that it was for leaving the Secret Guild"
Though he was surprised at the complete change of manner of Nobutuna, jack said nothing. The man who was having eyes of a cold blade cutting others a while ago, as soon as he turned his palm, he looked like a calm cool breeze.
Which side was faked. He could understand immediately without asking.
"Leaving the Secret Guild, is said to be almost impossible in the that world. I too, still is being aimed at. Without considerable resolution and abilities, it's less likely to be able to survive even if we come over to this side."
"Why are you... in that world?"
The hand which dropped the ashes stopped.
There were two types of people, entering the Order of Black Beast. Guys that set foot in that world willingly, and guys that weren't able to live if they did not enter.
Both Nobutuna and Falt, were without exception the latter.
"...It's just that, there is a lot of sad things repeating in the world."
Humans betrayed. Deceiving, killing, and there were humans that enjoyed it laughingly. Sneering, criticizing, shutting their eyes to their own shortcomings, there were many humans only doing things to make others a fool. There were also humans hurting others' hearts as plays. Bearing grudge and hate against selfish misunderstandings, abusing and brandishing justification.
"You have to accept it plainly. ...No, there are also many cases which one cannot live in this world, if they don't do so? People live with both the heart and body, as an individual... Therefore in order to adapt to it, we too, choose to live. The result is that Order. It's not any special story."
"..."
"The Secret Guild is a group that makes money from that... Though it is rational in the secular society, I already came to hate living there. That's why, I decide to fight to live, even if I'm more likely to die"
"You're strong"
"It's not so. ... That guy who is able to remain there with conscience, is much stronger."
He noticed that he was being deceived. But, jack asked no more. He did not feel the need.
"But, the truth is, it's not a must to have to endure such painful things, right?"
"Yeah"
"Therefore, I prayed, too"
One day, that he can come out.
"I finally was able to tell him recently, that I'll be waiting for him"
Surely I might be the first one. The eyes of Nobutuna looked gentle as he said.
"...Hey jack. It's just a guess, but if you're working as the same occupation... Do you happen to know Mr. Sido?"
"...Mr? Yeah, he's an old friend. We researched together before."
"He let me join him in quests several times. ... When I came to this side of the world, he was the first person to talk to me."
He had said.
If he is in this world, he is allowed by the world to be there. If he can live the way he is, certainly, towards the place that he belongs, he will go. You called him, if he answers you, then towards the place that you belong, both of you will go.
"...I was saved"
"...That's like Mr"
"Really? ...Therefore, I am able, to believe."
Towards the place where we belong, we will surely go to. Both me, and him too.
"I told him, I will wait"
jack, if you say you're looking for Falt.
"He will surely come to me"
If you say that you're looking for him.
"...If you feel like it, do you want to work together"
I'm looking for him. It might be haphazard, but I certainly hear footsteps. Someone is calling. Therefore, I step forward, to answer it.
"If a rare hunter doctor is with me, even I can act rashly"
Towards Nobutuna who was laughingly fearlessly, jack laughed too in a loud voice. Seriously, indeed, this guy is a friend of Falt.
There was no reason for him to decline.
"That's quite a good idea"
For the time being, instead of going back to works of untying threads, jack could see, looking around the world with him, was a very happy thing to do.
"There aren't enough barrels"
"Not enough is good. We don't need it. Don't buy it."
"Why-–-–-––-–- Isn't it not interesting without it-–-–?"
"You're the only one that find it interesting. Excuse me, do you know who is the one with the highest possibility of blowing it up within point-blank range? It might be fine for you since you're holding a shield, but I'm swinging my sword down. There's no time for me to defend from the direct hit. It's really scary having an explosion right in front of your eyes, if one step goes wrong, both my eyes and throat are going to be burnt"
"You haven't end up that way yet for once"
"Damn, can you not see this burn on my arm. If it really ends up to the bone, I'm seriously going to slash you from the back."
"...But look, though that many bombs are put around, Ash really can't get seriously injured"
"Are you praising me, Billy"
"It's a praise. I hope that you will continue to show the splendid evasion rate from now on by all means."
"No way. Doesn't Billy receive that before, doesn't that, hurt a lot? If the pain prolongs, the concentration will be chipped off... What will you do if you end up being transfered by the Felyne Tag"
"Such times are for such times"
"Excuse me"
"It-–-– will-–-– be-–-– fine, because Ash isn't that weak-–-–. Ash is the only one that can let me feel relieve to put bombs around?"
"That's sick. Let me abandon that trust with the garbage."
"That's mean-–-–"
The roar of laughters sounded through the night. Finishing the hunting from early afternoon, they headed to the gathering hall of the guide that provided free lodgings. The basic luxurious supper of the heavy fall of scissors of the captured Shogun Ceanataur, satisfied their stomachs before midnight.
The Milky Way was flowing to the direction east gently. The falling meteors were rare in this neighborhood, and looking around carefully, many people were gazing up at the sky on many roofs of the village.
"What should we do tomorrow?"
"Oh, we're heading to the village ahead first. The village master of this village asked us to transfer some supplies. It isn't particularly a dispatch, but the hunter of this village now seemed to have gone out"
"Ever since Billy-han tagged along with us, I don't have to quarrel with Ash about the next quest."
"...Now that you mention, we did that frequently in the old days"
"You two sure are, high-spirited."
"I like Rathalos!"
"I like Diablos!"
"...Should I say, I like Gypceros?"
"Ah-–"
"Ah-–"
"Hey"
The cackling laughters sounded through the night. The shooting stars reflected flutteringly in the edges of their eyes. SEVEN looked up incidentally. In the corner of the village, was a big big dump site.
The general garbages from each village, were basically collected in one place, once a week, a fire like a mountain would be set to the burnable garbage and disposed. The born ash would be discounted in a field, the nonburnable garbages would be buried in the ground, or disposed transferring to the workshop of the village. From the big objects to the small items, it was usual to take care of the lump with a bang comparatively.
What was found in that dump site, was one big big barrel.
"That can make a dynamic bomb!"
"Hey, wait SEVEN!"
"Since it's in the dump site there will be no problem for me to take it-–-–! But-– seriously-–- what a gigantic barrel! Isn't the incineration the day before yesterday? It will be fine if it's put here for a period! Isn't that okay, Billy-han!"
"Why not"
"Don't deal with him Billy! The victim of that giant barrel will be me again!"
"Nope, it may be me. Or it might be SEVEN himself."
"...Indeed"
There will be no problem if I blow it up in his back before I blast. Do you intend to carry and treasure rocks during quests. Paintballs will all right. Don't make any waste. Ignoring the exchange of opinions at the back, SEVEN willingly headed towards the barrel, and put his hand on it.
"...?"
There was something inside.
"Is it filled with garbages?"
Complaining, he put his hand quietly on the lid of the barrel. It was closed very firmly, but he was driven to desperation and tried to pull it. Groaning for a while, suddenly with a bang, he split opened the lid and took it off.
"What is inside-–-–-–"
He closed the lid.
One breathing. Two breathing. One blink. Calming himself, he looked around. The two person behind him, the people on the rooftops, he couldn't feel any gaze from the surrounding.
There was no one watching.
"Ash, Billy"
"What. I'm not going to carry it even if you ask"
"No, carry it. Please"
"...Please, you say... What, is there some treasures inside?"
"Then it will still be good."
"No, normally if something like that is inside that will no doubt be embezzlement, it's nothing good"
"It doesn't matter, just hold it. Let's carry it. Billy too, give me a hand"
"...Is something the matter"
Towards the unusual tone of SEVEN, Billy finally spoke seriously. Ash raised an eyebrow, looking with doubtful eyes.
The wind blew, and a smell of blood drifted. Ash opened his eyes wide.
"...I've seen him before"
"...Where"
"Prison"
At the moment SEVEN said, Ash reached his hands out. He hold onto the edge and lifted it. Billy looked around. Fortunately, except that many people were looking at their actions in amusement, he could feel nothing else.
"...It seems to be able to make a very huge bomb. It might make something like Rathian vanish completely."
"That's cool! Will three tails of scatterfish be enough?"
"Seriously don't make me destroy this, give me a break-–-–."
Their tones did not change, however the color of their eyes changed. Then at a quick pace, in a manner of not letting other realized that they were tense, they headed towards the lodging.
Inside the barrel that could put someone in completely, was a man with hands and feet tied up tightly, and blood bleeding from the head, breathing weakly.
The sound of the horn echoed gently towards the foot of the hill. With high frequency, still the gentle sound drove the all the carnivorous monsters except the herbivorous wyverns like Aptonoths, far far away. Though he was requested to repulse the monsters that came to the bottom of a wealthy village recently, for some reason, the direction of the forest was extremely uproarious.
(...Something is happening over there)
Famous monsters that breathed in the forests, including from Yian Kut-Kus, Rathian, to Rathalos, that area was next to the direction of the great forest. The atmosphere shouldn't be disturbed here unless the breeding season of Hypnocatrices came. Thinking of the possibilities, he could come up with the Nargacugas, that lived and hid to infiltrate the great forest, but Sky had still not seen that wyvern before.
(The guild haven't received any requests, from the villages near the great forest too... It's a mysterious feeling)
The direction of the forest was noisy. However, he did not hear any sound. Only, rustles. The feeling of a bug entering under the skin, moving about. It may be a feeling in his bones.
The rustling wind had a slight vivid lukewarmness.
"...?"
He looked up.
At the entrance of the forest which only appealed uproars and noises, in the direction where trees were growing thick, one small shadow could be seen.
(...It should have been sounds that will work on, creatures like Giapreys...)
Focusing his eyes, the shadow moved, and seemed to be staring at his direction.
(...Even so, it doesn't move)
Suddenly, the shadow shook. His body reacted at once, and ran. The shadow which lied on the ground, had soft hair that was wrapped in sunshine filtering through foliage, and was in a flexible black armor. He could see it. It was a human. It was a hunter.
"Hey, you!"
Even calling out aloud, the person which prostrated didn't get up. Thinking whether was that person injured, he held in his arm and checked the breathing first of all. Pale cheeks, twitching eyelids, white throat, and arms with many light wounds. It was a girl. And, he had seen her somewhere before.
Her lips were chapped.
"...Ah,"
She remembered him. His thoughts hesitated, but still Sky pulled his water bottle out. Holding it slightly towards her lips, the girl opened his eyes as if being startled.
The awakening from fainting was fast. It was the evidence of training.
"Drink it. Are you being chased?"
Asking in a tone of no more discussion, she returned him with eyes of urging to kill for an instant. He glared back with strong eyes, trying to strike it down. Blinking blankly, still she took the water bottle.
"If you're not injured then let's go back to the base camp. Can you run"
"...I'm sorry"
"It's okay. In exchange, for being helped by you during that period, we've even"
"...,"
She was the reception girl at that time. Narga greaves. A bright and flexible armor.
"Cause I'm not going to ask so don't say anything... I don't like troubles"
"Then, tell me only one thing"
"I decline. If I answer questions that must be answered, the Secret Guild will naturally be involved"
"Only one will be fine. Where is he?"
Where is he now. Lamia repeated desperately.
The head had not received a heavy damage, but the wound was ascertained to be deep, both sides of the head were cracked widely. The body was terrible. Normally, the vital parts of a human existed along the backbone, continuing down from eyebrows, nose, throat, clavicle, chest, to the pit of stomach. The temperature of the parts swelled up in purple was high, as well as cuts and nail wounds, and looking carefully the ends of fingers could only be expressed as, broken terribly. And, above all what should be felt uneasy about, was the left eye.
"...What is, this"
"It's flabby..."
Including the tissue fluid oozing out, the eyelids were swelled, and it blocked the eye. It was in a color of pus streaming down to the corner of the eye, but the transparency was high. It was as if crying, though they thought so, they did not have to time.
"...Even if we know that it's swelled, none of us have dealt with such injuries..."
"For the time being, shall we deal with the fester?"
"No, it's better not to touch it. The body first. How about the bones"
"They don't seem to be broken anywhere. But the bruises are terrible... Plus the fingertips, can they be used at all"
"First of all let's take the nails off"
"Take them off?"
"If we don't take them, the wounds will penetrate, and the healing will becoming only slower. Ash, bring all the potions and cloths for hemostatic."
"Roger. SEVEN is skillful with fingertips. You treat them"
"Got it... But... This guy, really is alive..."
Blood was stuck to the corner of his mouth. It will still be good if it was only to the degree that there was a cut in the mouth, but if the internal organs were hurt, they couldn't just do by themselves.
"...Won't it be better if we show him to a doctor"
"But didn't you say that, you met him in the prison"
You know, if he is the guy whom you met in that place, at that time,
"Isn't he a dangerous fellow. If we move publicly here and there, the guys that did this may find us"
"...Though you're right,"
"Emergency measures. By ready to stay up all night, we're leaving the village first thing in the morning. ... Fortunately it is a quest to the town. We can show him to a doctor there."
"Morning? You must be joking! Billy, let's move as soon as we're over"
Though you're the most somniferous? Grunting towards SEVEN, Ash said with a face trying to sneeze as he left.
"It's a crime to abandon someone that saved you. The life will be concerned if we're late. That, is as a fellow friend."
His face looked dim for an instant. Unintentionally he looked towards Billy. Though the expression did not change at all as usual, he could see a smile floating slightly on his lips.
What should be the name of the warm sense, which slowly ruffled upwards.
"...You're cool"
"What"
"I agree"
"Me too me too"
"What is it!"
"Nothing-–-–"
"Yeah. Nothing"
He looked down hiding his laughter. He narrowed his eyes towards the wounds. The buried nails, the dirt, and the depth of the wounds. Above half was out of wild perception. But, in the case of SEVEN, it was absolute.
"Both of you two be prepared. Let's end it in around an hour."
"Is there anything necessary"
"Let's try using lifecrystal. I heard that there're often used in healthcare settling."
"There are...? It'll be good if I haven't sold them all..."
"I like I have left one behind... Ah,"
"Huh?"
Suddenly, he could see the eyelid of the right eye moved gently. Staring at it still, the constant breathing slowly became rough.
He must be feeling pain.
"...He's awake"
Lightly, towards where the moonlight entered, the eyeball moved. The opened eyelid, an eye of strong and light yellow.
Blinking twice. While turning towards them gently, one big sigh.
"...Yo. Your eyes, are as good, as usual..."
He remembered him.
Having the first move being made, SEVEN lost sight of words to say next.
"No information, no witness, we'll have a hard time as I thought trying to catch the tail of the Secret Guild"
"...If you're once in that Secret Guild, won't you be able to read their behavior patterns"
"Unfortunately, I was a good dunce secret hunter. If I rank one up, I'll drop two ranks in the next quest... There's no room for me to know, what and how the people of the upper echelon judge and command"
"So is any prediction possible?"
"I roughly did... Because the Guild Knights are already moving, Falt too should be 100% escaping from the Order... The problem is, where and how did he escape. Cause the departure spot is uncertain, it's hard to expect the root"
"You mean the way we're tracing now also, is at random?"
"Nope. Just in case, this is a route different from the route Falt always use."
"Why different"
"That's of course. No way will the Secret Guild not check there. I still remember that, Falt isn't an idiot to dash in there"
A creak of the wooden chair along with a sigh, he leaned his back against it. After walking a considerable distance, and in a quick pace, Nobutuna was still under the condition of being aimed by the Secret Guild. The cautions during the journey were against people, against monsters, and against the environment, in addition they had to search for someone, it was natural for the fatigue to accelerate.
"... If the days he stayed at your place you said, is certain, then it's impossible for her to stay longer in the outside world. That guy probably, is on foot"
"...Any chances of using animals?"
"That'll leave a trace. It's banned in the Secret. They will even torture the driver of the animal, to find out by all means... I can't think of a reason for Falt to deliberately do that."
Every time when they were confirming the route in this way, and established the next aim, jack was calmly surprised. Not to mentioned about the Nobutuna's trust to Falt, he was astounded by his sharp insight.
This was a certain psychological warfare. Nothing changed even to a friend. When predicting what kind of actions would a opponent took, the possibility of the opponent making the same predicts could not be abandoned. Without the rule of main constituent on both sides, the opponents could read their movements, and they could also read their opponents' movements, with that in mind there was very much a possibility to pass each other.
However, Nobutuna, didn't seem to think that, Falt would be thinking of how he would act. It was such elocution.
"But, rather to say, this is normal. For me"
"...Normal?"
"It seems to be my expertise to put along with the surrounding"
I think I'm such a character. I don't particularly act along it, therefore I don't make every day as ' me basing on others', but when I notice, it was often for me to always turn around as an assistance of someone. And that is relatively adapted to my skin.
"It's not that I intend to do so particularly, but when it becomes situations like that, it'll end up like that... Falt also knows that, therefore there's no need to worry about that point. He also unconsciously, properly thinks about himself as the main constituent."
"...That's a disadvantageous character..."
"It might not be so"
I don't dislike the confident pleasant feeling, when the partner in the back moved as I thought.
"...I think that, it's fine to have such people"
"Hmm... In order words, you're like a puppet master"
"Though not too excellent"
Regardless of the type, when a certain team was formed, someone must be there by all means. It was a leader. If there weren't anyone playing as the part to pull the group, the people would lose leadership. In exchange of the leader taking all responsibilities, the team must accept all the instructions the leader gave. Of course, if that was unreasonable, it was possible to show the fang and resist.
The team and leader, crossed-purpose at that point, and opposing opinions would increase. If broke down, the leader would withdraw, a new different leader might be built, but then the form of the original team would be destroyed. It may be fine to name it a small revolution. Revolutions were of sacrifice and arguments, suspicion was born from there, and distrust always came together, if it didn't succeed only tiredness, it may be spending time idly. When forming a team, a result of the first choice of personnel must be convincible to all the members, and those who avoided revolution as much as possible, could work longer as a team.
Therefore, when forming a certain team, it would be relieved if one people, stood between the leader and the team. It may be called as sub-leader, but unifying them, they were often called as super sub. A person of absolute assistance. When the team collapsed, when the suspicion of without a leader increased among members, they were the people that grasped all the situations and psychological situations, and possible to make follows not only in the social aspect, but also within the internal aspect. There was a team ahead than self, therefore they would not mind struggling. Sometimes priorities were given to members over the leader, furthermore the reverse could be sufficient. Understanding the basic idea when establishing the team deeply, and could notice the thoughts of violation. Appropriateness of ideas and thoughts of the social ethic agreement. The eyes of making sure whether members understood the words said by each other. And they could make conscientious and forward decisions. Of course, if their own roots and trunks had fluctuation, they would not be fit. There weren't so many people that had the ability, to gave the priority to others over themselves.
They were the owner of rare abilities same as the leader, though they were apt to be neglected, in teams that were established without taking the wrong here, they would wipe out the risk of separation when some problems were produced.
If anything, Nobutuna would be suitable for the latter constitutionally.
(...Why am I trying to apply this fellow's character inside my head)
Maybe because we're teaming up together right now.
"...Still, being able to see a trail, is really hard"
"He doesn't seem to be a guy that will die easily, but meeting up might be a little late. I heard about the story... his cousin? Did something happen to her"
"I can't deny it... Shall we contribute some information of Lamia to the guild..."
"Better don't. The Hunters Guild is in an opposition power for the moment. If we make a bad move and let them get to her first, there's a possibility that she will get punished"
"...You're right. It will be hard to say that she has done nothing wrong..."
In the end they themselves were unchanged from the people that betrayed, told lies, and killed.
One more sigh. Trying to regain the happiness that ran away, he received the wine carried over. The small skin held out, was not a kind of coaster.
"...?"
"It's a letter. It arrived a while ago."
The waitress said in a cheerful voice, lowered her head and turned around.
"...Letter?"
"Is there anyone that will write a letter to you"
"No idea... Though there's someone in mind, we just met and parted a while ago."
It couldn't be Billy. It couldn't be the guys that were in the very distance. Even if it was like the vague letter recently, I think that you are suitable therefore I called you, he could not move now.
Hmm, is the red-haired girl doing fine now, he wondered. Her age shouldn't be too much of a difference with Lamia.
Nobutuna opened it. The sentence was extremely short.
"...I am utterly lucky"
"...Huh?"
The sender of the opened letter, was a bow user he did not understand well, living near the great forest.
If you know a Secret Guild hunter with one eye, to the snow mountain.
The letters of Secret Guild were a little warped, it was out of consideration to make them hard to read.
"Good news, from a friend... jack, the snow mountain"
"Snow mountain?"
There was the area where Mr. Sido was stationed.
The barrel they are transporting is really huge, thinking so he watched from a long distance, and he remembered the man who walked in the front. When he knew that he was being called as the Gypceros Breaker in the past, he bursted into laughters that could crush the abdominal muscle he trained. Though he was in danger of being turned into rice crackers, Nobutuna saved him with all his efforts, saying thatno one would eat such unidentified rice crackers. Why would such a memorable guy be carrying such a huge barrel.
On the tree, the cart approached, shaking unsteadily under the shadow at his feet. Because there was nothing in particular necessary to ask, he closed his eyes and went back to nap again. If they shared an area, it was common to pass by each other. It would be bad if he disturbed their quests.
"Hey, the barrel over there"
"...Isn't there at least some other expressions except barrel for you to use..."
"Well, I'm sorry. I think it's really big"
Oh, he looked up. The drowsiness floating footlessly slowly disappeared. The group was hailed by a hunters that walked before them, they stopped their steps calmly.
"Can we take a look inside"
"...Why?"
Eh, he slowly got up. Isn't Billy's voice just now, sounded really caution. Surely when called out by strange hunters, show us your baggages, and said so, it would be natural to be cautious since they could be bandits, but still he could feel murderous intent and aspiration. When there was nothing in particular, he was quite a gentle man. It was not a voice towards hunters that called out friendly for the first meeting.
"Recently thieves are swaggering in this area. Having their baggages stolen, several villagers lost their livings appeared... Nope, it's not as if we're doubting you, but we have to work under the instruction of the upper"
We'll be thankful if you can understand. The hunter that hailed them certainly in a calm tone.
He looked down. Three people were exchanging eyes at a loss. Standing leisurely, on the side of the hunter that hailed them was a duo. He looked at the barrel. His eyes concentrated on it. Thinking that it was very big, something was surely inside it. It could only be seen as the size which a person could go in completely.
Originally for a barrel filled with liquid, the cork wouldn't have been taken off. He could not seen inside within the shadow. Hanging his foot on a branch, he leaned forward. He held onto the quiver, and the bow in his right hand. He looked into with the sun straight above, and strained at the small small hole.
Twining his foot around the branch, without caring about the grand sound of the whisper of leaves, he swung his body. The views turning upside down, immediately, towards the hunter that waited for an answer from the three people, he held an arrow.
"Billy, get down!"
"!"
Ku, letting the air howled, an arrow flew. It pierced the shoulder of the hunter that was off-guarded. Swinging once again, flipping his back his feet touched the ground. To the limit, the pulled bow aimed at another hunter. The shot arrow missed. The evasion distance was not ordinary. Though they may be trying to keep it secret, his body that was used to that smell, and sign, could not forget it.
Under the traveling cloaks, were no doubt Narga vests.
"Those people are from the Secret Guild! Run!"
"Ash! SEVEN!"
The cart started rolling without a pause. Jumping onto the barrel, he drew an arrow to the full once again. The weapon took out by the opponent was a light bowgun. Oh, that's bad. If hit at badly, it was a dangerous object that could cause fatal injuries. Stanching still, he wondered if bare throat would be all right.
"Seriously it frightened me and turning around I thought a giant bagworm appeared who are you-–-–?"
"I thought a hercudrome dropped I was really scared-–-–!"
"Are those the words able to say to people who helped you at the first meeting? Treating me as an insect seriously no way-–!"
Towards the words flew without a feeling of strain, he shouted back in disarray, the bow pulled with strength bent. The arrow which slipped flew out towards an entirely irrelevant direction. Oh, this is bad. He wouldn't be able to make it in time before the trigger was pulled over there.
Kin, a mild sound was made, and the bullet fell.
"Hey hold on tight! You're the only long ranged here!"
"Wait... you're ordering me now after treating me as an insect..."
"You're the one that got on the barrel and don't need to run, that's not too much to ask-–! The stamina consumption isn't halved!"
He could tell that Billy was laughing behind. What is with this way of treatment. Unwillingly he held onto his bow. drew an arrow to the full and aimed. The hunter with red hair which acted as a shield, left the cart and took out his great sword out once more. The bullets dropped, a sense of several arrows creaking to the limit, passed through the hand. They spread.
"SEVEN"
"Got it"
Billy tossed, and a small bottle flew passed just beside him. SEVEN drunk it up in a gulp before he could see the contents of it. With another toss, he threw the emptied bottle, and hit the head.
"That-–-– hurts-–-–..."
"Yoooosshhhh! I'll accomplish it until all my energy disappears! I'll show you how swift-footed master SEVEN is! Ash super out of the way!"
"Eh"
"SEVE-–-–N TRINITY-–-– ATTAC-–-–K!"
Wow, that's fast.
Holding onto the shield, like the tyrant of the desert Diablos, the trace of the lance running straight, and one shadow in the front, flying out grandly. Furthermore pausing for a while, two shadows flew in the sky vividly in the direction he was heading.
The too precise human bullet then, with a sudden brake, returned. With that damage, even the Secret Guild must need a time lag before reviving no matter how good they were. He wondered what would be the sceneries in their eyes during the second flight.
"...Erm, Billy, he, doesn't stop"
"It'll be alright. He's not aiming at us"
Just as he said.
Ash was pursued when he stood up, turning around in the air, with an expression of anger, he swung and threw the great sword he was carrying on his shoulder.
With the great sword piercing in the earth in front, the human bullet finished with a sliding stop splendidly, with a wonderful cloud of dust.
In the middle of the blew up dust, stepping his foot on the ground with power, with a hum, the expression that laughed cooly was filled completely with pleasure.
"This is awesome! It's a perfect charge!"
"What is a perfect charge you bastard! Damn you for aiming at me!"
"Nah, because I've drank power juice, isn't that a shame, if I don't send everybody flying?"
"There's a whole bunch of people besides me like Billy and that beetle! For what reason do you have to pick me! You must be seriously joking! Fix that right!"
"No~~ way~~!"
"Yoouu are so irritating-–-–!"
In the journey of the blowing wind, while he was surprised by the strength of Billy that could push the cart alone and continued, Riku dropped his shoulder, and sighed with sorrow.
"I'm, not an insect..."
Billy who was behind him, was laughing just as he thought.
They loaded down the barrel by the roots of a tall tree standing in the middle of the grassy plain, and opened the lid of the it. The person who was sleeping fast inside opened his eye. Riku frowned.
Saying that it was healing, the injury was severe.
"It's kind of noisy just now, are we being found?"
"No, it's all right. We got pass it. It'll soon be the twon"
"How's the wounds"
"It hurts"
The tone was light and couldn't let them feel any pain. The shadow standing up slowly, borrowed a hand from SEVEN, and stepped onto the grassland. With splat, drops of blood dripped.
"The bleeding won't stop."
"I'm the type of hot-blooded. It'll be fine"
"I don'y see it like that"
The man who laughed then borrowed a cloth and held it to his left eye. The swollen, distorted and crooked part, heaved. Oh, this is bad. Riku thought. I have no doubt stepped into something troublesome.
Sitting down by the shadow of the tree, SEVEN helped him to change his bandages. In the calm voices sounded by the birds, Riku looked puzzled at Billy.
"What's this. What's happening?"
"We're heading to the town"
"I'm not-–-– asking about that-–-–"
Billy always spoke only the deciding matters.
"...Who's that guy in the first place, Billy. Calling on all of a sudden, his face doesn't seem to by a hero type."
"That's language of violence"
"...It's Riku"
"Your explanation is too concise"
What should I say other than that. Beside Billy who was lost in thought, Ash was in a condition of half smiling.
"...Anyway thank you for helping us. We really didn't notice. Are Secret Guilds something that will appear all of a sudden?"
Thank you.
Because he never though such words would come out, he was a little surprised.
"...It's not sudden, they are a group of people of such people. Deceiving, telling lies, betraying, everyone can do so... Though I know that they're moving recently, I think they really have much activation."
"...You can tell? They're moving?"
"Those people act quite like Nargas. If you're used to it you can tell even only by signs"
"...Why are we being targeted. Bandits?"
"I don't see that feeling. Isn't it the content of the barrel"
"But inside the barrel, is Falt. Why is Falt being aimed by the Secret Guild..."
His voice became softer and softer in the latter half. Noticing something as he said, Ash felt silence with such eyes. He fixed his eyes on the man called Falt who was receiving treatments.
"What's the relationship with you and him"
"We found him inside a barrel we picked up at the dump site"
"Pick up? Don't pick up something that seems to be dangerous. Go away from it with every effort"
"Cause he's badly-bruised..."
"That's why it's dangerous. A human packed inside a bruised barrel, what, of course he was stuffed into the barrel carrying wounds. That's just absolute trouble"
"But SEVEN said he had seen him before."
A low voice. Like a whisper, but slightly transparent. Turning his eyes away, Ash frowned.
"...At that time it was the Secret Guild that was engaging with my brother...?"
"About that, I don't know the circumstances very much too. Explain, Ash"
Peremptory strong, however a tone of calling off, after hesitating, Ash spilled everything and talked. Coming across SEVEN in the desert, the source of the drug that was circulated in the town, his older brother that came third, and the reason they left the town. What happened to himself being aimed, and the result, at that time.
"When SEVEN was captured, he said he met that guy... Though he couldn't see his face, look, SEVEN's perceptions are always one hundred percent right"
"...What a wild child..."
"Actually, the voice seemed to be the same too, he himself also remembered SEVEN. If it was the Secret Guild that was acting secretly in the town at that time, I can understand a few about what they're doing now... Though I don't know why we're being aimed, but rumors said that in the Secret Guild, if someone fail a quest they'll got punish... Various things, might have happened"
"Well... Don't proceed in a logical manner. But that guy won't open his mouth. Is he really from the Secret Guild... I don't see it so"
Well, it's something like this, and he looked at the profile of Billy, and followed ahead of his sights.
He's eighty-percent people from the Secret Guild, Riku though half convinced.
That two people, talked very gentle to the three of them. It might be an usual practice, but if they were bandits, it was also possible for them to blind fire with bow guns without arguing. Nargacugas did anything. Similarly, the Order of the Black Beast did not choose methods either. He who was just inside the barrel, simply because they wanted to take him away alive, therefore they feigned to be mild.
A reason. Failure of a quest. Thus punishment, though it was impossible on this side, it was possible in the world of Secret. However, with this alone as an influential people that could escape from that Order in this way, failing in a quest was almost impossible.
(...It feels like something bigger)
The black dream would not let fugitives go. Chased, chased, and killed by all means. If wounds were inflicted, it would be their victory. There was always victims beside the dream. Riku knew it because he had seen it, and he was convinced for he knew it.
DId he escaped from the Order? Or is it some kind of decoys? In the middle of some kind of missions? Though there were innumerable possibilities, he would not talk about what was asked.
What does he want to do?
(...Though he's not an enemy of friend either, this three people are going to help him)
Only, as a wounded fellow brother.
"Ah-–-–... This is really troublesome-–-–..."
"...?"
But, it unexpectedly, might not be that bad, thinking so he thought he had changed considerably a lot.
Stepping onto the grass, standing beside him who was continuing the treatments, Riku looked down at the broken and distorted eye which looked up at him.
"Hey"
"...?"
"Are you, someone from the Secret Guild?"
The eye became stiff, a sign letting wariness went up slowly. Though he was trying to cover it, it was true if he read it from the sign of instant. Towards a hunter as such who got a lot of experiences, such things didn't work. The flowing sweat was not from enduring the pain of treatment.
One person came into his mind.
Probably Billy didn't not know at that time, even if he noticed later, it didn't matter much to him. Of course Riku didn't have the conviction that he was so, therefore the leading question he put to him, was half-finished.
However, that one Nargacuga, was a very flexible human.
As if he was looking for somebody, he turned his clear black eyes to the depth of the great forest. Looking for something in the sea of trees, what was it if it didn't fall to the ground. It was not the Nargacuga that was targeted at that time. He looked, for somebody more different. Seriously, a little impatient, but carefully.
It was not only Billy particularly, to have noticed his look. If the person he was looking for was not a suicide applicant, though the possibility was limitlessly thin, there was one more.
"Do you know Nobutuna"
Seeing his right eye opened widely, oh, he too just as I thought, is from the Order of the Black Beast, he was convinced.
Then he.
"Is it fine for me, to recognize him as another escaper from there?"
This was as he thought, an unbelievable thing.
A hunter doctor passing by, seriously, he doubted, it was serious.
Fitting the shoulder that came off immediately, other, light wounds were almost left for complete recovery. Though starvation and dryness were healed, Lamia's movements were alert and agile. Changing the bandages, taking off the fixed parts excluding the armor, she who looked into the wounds carefully, dropped one sigh of relief.
"The wounds won't be left. It'll be fine, you're still good for a bride"
"Thank you. Though I have no plan, I'm glad"
"Dear, since you're cute, surely it'll be soon. Pick a good man"
It was a great conversation, he was overwhelmed because of hearing a little.
The place they rushed to was a small accommodation deserted in a field, slightly closer to the snow mountains than the forest and hill. No matter what, he could not leave her in the guild close to the forest and hill. If his prediction was positive, if they were hauled by the guild, they would be parted.
Thinking whether this place would be all right, a female hunter who was resting alone in that place called out to Sky who seemed to be at a loss.
Because she held the qualification of doctor, she examined. Though he felt uneasy when she said so, it was as expected, better than treating it himself. She was a young girl.
She introduced herself as Carry. The long sword she carried on her back was just no match with the size of her chest. Won't them get in the way, he suspected, he remained silent as he might be murdered if he said it. Was he who once was an alliance, an target now, cheerful? Dear Nobutuna-sama, Carry-san's breasts are more exploding than Lamia-san's. Why am I surrounded in such a position. I'm happy. It's happiness of seeing splendid things.
"It's good that they are only a few deep wounds... It doesn't seem to be wounds from a monster?"
It was awkward that the words from end-to-end were sharp. But, it was Lamia who was troubled not Sky. I'll continue looking in silence towards the day after tomorrow, no further conversations were heard.
Getting tired of the silence, he looked back at them. Lamia was looking down in silence, Carry's eyes were still sharp. She said she was a hunter doctor, but the elements of a hunter was stronger, where did the extraordinary drive came from.
"... Please don't torment her too much. Everyone has their own circumstances, right?"
"Dear, I'm not tormenting her. That's scandalous."
A confidence that he could not win her without a doubt by tongue was born. Enjoying the expression of Sky who looked bitter, Carry slowly changed her expression and gently opened her mouth.
"...I'm looking for a person. Because you're a little similar to him. I'm a little concerned"
"...Similar?"
"Yes. He's a hunter named Falt, I wonder do you know him. He's wearing a Garuga fake."
He had heard stories about the workshop making armor parts for the head with Yian Garuga, there weren't a great number, it wasn't an appearing product also. Were there any hunter that was willing to use such an extremely novelty equipment in the first place. If fogged, only the head was really Yian Garuga.
"...Is he a bow user"
"Yes"
"I know him"
"Is there any? There's really such a hunter?"
The feed was though lightly. Without entering between the earnest eyes engaged, they fell silent after all. Females recently were somewhat strong.
"I won't talk in details, but if you come together with us, you can meet him"
"...Though I won't ask in detail, you will have to answer only one question"
A feeling of coercion. Though his wind was telling him not to be involved in, why did he felt bore.
"Is he, safe?"
"He's safe!"
Because Lamia said too desperately, he looked up. He should be safe. The repeated words, her eyes were in the sad color of merely believing purposelessly.
Oh, that person, must be in a dangerous situation. That is so, he thought darkly. Because if she was saying in supposition. If, he who she said knew, if they were in the same place.
"It'll be fine if he's safe... Where are you two heading?"
"It's the snow mountain"
He answered in substitution for Lamia who was looking down bearing it. Snow mountain? He nodded to her who titled her head, and Sky remembered the letter.
"Around one week ago, I sent a letter to a friend of mine, and there is a reply. She... the person she is looking for, is there. SInce I'm an acquaintance by chance, he contacted me."
"Huh..."
"First of all we have to go there"
He thought about for the first time, why did she ned to go to Nobutuna. And he recalled.
The man who wore a Garuga fake, if he had not mistaken, was in the snow mountains.
"Wow... I think I know something..."
"...?"
"Let's hurry... If it is what I think it is, we need to hurry up"
If she was looking for help fro Nobutuna, if that somebody who wore a Garuga fake was the subject, he could understand her movements. Wariness boiled at a stretch. Can it be. No, I still can't ignore the possibility.
"Carry-san, why are you looking for the Garuga mask."
"He is the person that saved my brother. I'm looking for him with my younger brother... We want to give thanks"
"Do you know about his situations?"
"...What do you mean"
"I figure out both the situation and the information. Is there any evidence proving that you are not from the Secret Guild"
He wondered how did she see him, who was standing straight.
"That is what deserves our caution most. As long as we don't know whether you belong there or not, we cannot accept your company. I can't explain the circumstances either. Though she doesn't seem to know you, if the Order is big there's enough certain possibilities."
If he explained the circumstances, she would be less likely to come along. Speaking of the Secret Guild, was a group of people that proper hunters would never want to be connected to.
Probably seeing everyone else as enemies weren't himself only, Lamia as well felt that. Fortunately, she knew that Sky wasn't people of that side. Choosing him as a victim at that time, if it was now, he could say that he was lucky.
When he asked whether did he want to live, that bow user, answered lightly that he was alive. If they, escaped from the Secret Guild after that words of that hunter, if they were being chased, being able to meet a hunter doctor here itself was too convenient.
"What should I do to show it?"
"That isn't what you're hoping for... Unfortunately, we have already said that the destination is the snow mountains. However, we haven't said who is the purpose. You have too many uncertain elements. Who are we meeting, what the reason is, if you are from the Secret Guild, those aren't what you want to know... Only whether a hunter called Falt will really be there or not. We can, still avoid that"
"..."
"If you are really a honest hunter registered in the guild... You should be able to say so"
"...You're opposite to your appearance. You're expressing yourself well, child."
"Thank you"
When the wariness floated in his eye color, Sky was not light to get on a provocation. Plainly, only seeing things calmly, judge, and turned them into words. Facts he considered right, facts that was caused by appropriate processing though the circumstances forming a line. When he himself with the principle of safety first had been concerned, he could not have been a hunter, if he was not able to make use of his ability to the max, to find a method to grow out of it.
"... My brother did a certain study. He was often being aimed."
"..."
"A famous researcher will certain have once. Useful things with knowledge makes big money. Therefore, succeeding in study once, can let you buy one village. Having the right in the hand, it might doubles or triples... He can't be killed in the middle of the study. We received one hunter dispatched from the Hunters Guild."
That was, Falt. The words of Carry began to exude the truth.
"At first he was normal, but gradually his eyes became searching for something, I don't know whether my brother noticed it or not. But, I somewhat felt awfully uneasy. Even for the guild, they put out feelers considering about his identity... When I knew that he was from the Secret Guild, I intended to point my blade straight at him."
However, Falt said said he would protect jack, and laughed. His eyes were of a man with decision.
"I know that, he had said that he wanted to leave the Order"
"..."
"For three days, he protected us all the time from somewhere. Though the presentation of the result ended, we can't see his figure... Leaving the Secret Guild, which means, it isn't something that can be done half-hearted, as expected, we can imagined... We haven't thank him yet. Plus, the treatment of the wound on his left eye is still on the way... I have a proper reason to look for him"
"...Sky-san"
"...Does it match"
"Yes"
Hearing the words, he sighed slowly. Then it'll be alright. If the actions of Falt Lamia knew, matched completely with the actions of Falt Carry said, then she was someone that knew about the circumstances.
Just a little uneasiness with left. Though she said that it was because he helped them, Sky really didn't believe that there were rare people, that would still got involved for treatment and etiquette knowing that it was something dangerous. If it was himself a while ago, he wouldn't have want to.
"...It's like, knowing that whether does good people really exist in the world, is by luck..."
And that, it wasn't so bad, to an extent that could change his mind, because it was somewhat warm, it ended.
"...Will you come together with us. I don't know whether or when her wounds might open"
"You are such an able man. I'll revise that"
That's a greeting, and, what can I do unless I laugh?
Gripping onto the bow that was left, without knowing how to use it, he wandered into the depths of the forest which seemed to have swallowed him. Noisy voices of birds, red eyes burning on the other side of bushes, unknown shadows that ran in the interval of shadow.
He was frightened. Even he stepped one step forward, he could feel the unstable fluctuation. He was scared. While only tears fell, he felt something frozen swinging inside. You must not be here, the wind whispered, and it would be good if he moved his place as if pressed by the voice. You must not go back. According to the words repeated by that hunter, Falt headed deeper into the forest. For what?
He was thrown into despair, not because the view turned dark. It was because the forest widen it's arms like an abyss. Moonlight did not arrive. Touching the grass by feel, bearing his cries whenever he was tripped by stones, he advanced by crawling. For what?
I must not go back. Mother will be troubled. Father will be troubled. Everyone will be troubled. If I go back, everyone will be troubled. I can't do that, though I can't do that, I'm scared. I can't go back though I'm scared. If I go back, it must be more scarier. Then I won't go back. I must not go back.
What the child imposed on himself, was the awfully cold reality. Wetting his cold finger-tip with dews, it was cut by the sharp leaf, and blood bled. He wiped the tears that didn't stop. Not knowing where to go, he stepped out again. For what?
What does it mean, to return to nature.
With a drop, his head shook, and the power in his shoulders fell out. It was drowsiness that attacked suddenly from the rear like and despised him. The voices of nosy birds shook in his brain, but his sights declined. A blink, another blink, in front of his extending hand, was the soft soil, and some kind of touch with rattling sound. The something that was ahead of his extended hand was round and warm, clinging onto it, he leaned his body against it.
When he opened his eyes, the surrounding was dusky, in the deep place where even little light of the day reached, his body was wrapped only with cold. Snuggling up to that something round in his back, he collected sticks and dried-out bones in the area as his belongings, still, as if his body was shrinking, he breathed.
What does it mean, to return to nature.
In the cold, he understood that it was to die. Wondering whether was death such a terrible thing, ice formed from the back of his heart. Moving for long distance, his limbs became stiff for the abnormal fear and wary heart, did not listen to what he said, and he slept many times in the mud. When hunger took lead, he would put the end of everything he saw into his mouth. He bit even, bugs that wriggled to death with his back teeth.
In his back, a crack, a small sound was made, after drowsiness came to covet as he lost conscious, was when a little while passed.
Crack crack, making a low sound, the egg broke. From the broken gap he could see, something black that was wriggling and finally noticed him after looking around, but still, he could not move already even with willpower. The golden eyes looked down blankly at him, was the wriggling black, and slightly white. Crack crack, the egg broke. When it was half broken, the black creature which was sticky in amniotic fluid, waved it's neck gently. A weak cry, and it's wings opened. Something that was dripping, glittered in silver in the sunlight that slightly entered.
Oh, it's kind of, beautiful.
He wiped what dripped with his hand unconsciously. Without regard to the golden eyes that were looking at him, he put it into his mouth. Opening his dried up throat, it waved gently. Kui, the bird which chirped in a weak voice after all, opened its wings and flew away. He took a little sip from the amniotic fluid left in the eggshell. His throat opened slowly.
In a few minutes, that bird, returned. Falt was surprised.
Though he was surprised to see it came back, he was more surprised to see that the bird was holding a Kelbi in it's beak. The bleeding Kelbi, was already dead. The bird shook it's neck, the turned-up bill scooped from the stomach, and carried the small piece of separated meat towards him.
"...You're giving it to me"
He asked in a husky voice. The Yian Garuga with golden eyes tilted it's head innocently, stared at him.
"I'm sorry, it may not really be edible, to me..."
Still Falt put the uncooked meat of Kelbi with blood into his mouth. Pushing the tough meat that came loose down his opened throat, through his chest, before it reached his stomach, he took in the meat raw as it was. The rusty taste, the terrible smell, still the emptiness piled up inside, was warmed by the animal that lived a while ago.
He cried.
The Yian Garuga tilted its head, and then widened its wings once again. Flapping them to the point he could see, it dug up the soil. Up and up, it turned around and came back, and it shook its head. Dropping from its bill, were some mushrooms.
"You, are really smart..."
He slightly held out his small hand and touched it's forehead, the Black Wolf Bird cried joyfully. Why did he do that before wiping his chin where blood was dripping. Covered in blood, becoming worn-out, still, he was able to smile there.
(I will live)
That was not as a child nor an adult, but the decision of Falt only as a living creature, it did not shake till the last, and became only one.
I heard that there's a famous doctor in the snow mountains. In response to the words of Riku, they changed their course immediately. The cart that should have headed to the town, as they advanced they were reminded of the cold. They were lucky to have declined the quest itself.
The barrel was filled with lake water about the same weight as a person, fixing the lid solidly, they abandoned it by the roadside. If people happened to pass by and saw it, it must be a weird object. But it would be all right if it could gain them a little time.
The wounds of Falt, who was breathing softly on the cart, was still bleeding. Though they were able to do something to the other wounds on the body, they weren't able to put their hands on the eye which seemed to have something buried inside. The embossment of his eyelid continued recovering strangely, which seemed to blow up just be touching it.
"...Hey"
Billy and Riku were walking in the front. Ash who lost in rock, paper, scissors was pulling the cart. SEVEN who ended up pushing the cart, necessarily always put Falt within his sights. He who had closed his eyes, and pressing against the left eye with one hand gently, slowly opened his other eye. Their eyes did not match.
Do you know Nobutuna. His voice said with hope when he said. We know him. Billy nodded. Both Ash and SEVEN knew his name. He was a person that they did not share many time with, but loved long swords, and taught Sakura well, about this and that of the far-off country in a unique tone. It was an enjoyable talk, they remembered.
I want to see him. Something I know is heading there. We're meeting there. Where is he. Shrugging to he who asked, Riku wrote one letter in the small village next.
"Hey, Falt"
"Hm-–...?"
"What happened, to your eye"
Leisurely, dully, it was a voice that wasn't pretending to sound tough. Stirring an inch and the eye that looked this way, why are you asking about that, asked.
"...There should have been, an eye. When we met"
"..."
"Why, is it gone"
He seemed to be singing when he walked. He seemed to be singing when he looked at the world. He seemed to be enjoying it. When SEVEN thought now, it might virtually resembled resignation.
Slowly and silently, bitter amounted his back. Inside his brain, something which was different from his sense was appealing to him. It was a common sense. And, honestly, he did not like that.
The truth always came together, with the accompany of something resembled to death.
(That time, I should have killed you)
Who was the one that had said it. Though the same person who appeared later, did not watched him letting him feel any sign. Only, looked at the world with clear eyes.
(Because he saved you, he got locked up)
The eyes that tried to pierce him saying that long time ago, mixed in the eyes of Nobutuna, was endless resentment, regret, and slight murderous intent.
He wasn't able to understand ten percent of what was said at that time. Of course, because he didn't know. He did not know what he might know. I did not know what he must know either. Hiding what he wanted to know, even his life seemed possible to be taken away. Therefore surely, he thought Nobutuna did not killed him.
At that time, what kind of eyes did he have. Did he have 'a pair of good eyes' as Falt said at that time. Therefore he let him go
... In the Secret Guild, the failure in quest would said be targeted for punishment.
He knew it. The eye of Falt, was certainly, at that time.
"...There's many out in the world. In various ways, many sad things fall down"
"..."
"It's not something that you need to mind... I only failed"
"...Nobutuna said that, you're being locked up"
"..."
SEVEN pushed the cart with power. At that time, he was powerless. He couldn't do anything. He was not able to save anyone.
He lived without knowing that the life he had now was in exchanged of his sight taken away from him. He felt awfully, shameful.
"Hey, that eye, I,"
"I have seen a lot of things even with one eye"
The words that shut up him, froze his body.
"...There's also people whom I was able to meet. Sceneries too... There's monsters too. Though it's skewed"
"..."
"I am already lucky, with only one eye"
My heart was not taken away. That surely, must be protected by my friend who didn't kill you at that time.
At that time, I was worried, about him, and went to that town. Therefore, it's fine, I still think so now.
"Therefore, it's not something you need to mind"
"..."
"It's not your fault"
In a whisper, he heard a murmur at the front.
"It's not your fault... You're looking properly, at the front"
"..."
"You're not bad... Though you precipitate foolishly, you're not bad, right?"
You are not bad.
Though it was showered on him roughly.
"...Okay"
"Push it. It's heavy"
"My bad"
With a drift, Falt leaned a little towards SEVEN. Huh, he raised his face, with sweat gushing out due to the pain, still Falt was laughing.
(You have become a really good hunter, SEVEN)
And, you have found some good companions.
(That's good)
"...Yeah"
Oh, are you pleased with it.
(...I want to help)
There's many sad things fallen down in the world in various ways,
(...Other than that, there surely must be a lot of warm things rolling)
SEVEN thought of himself to be proud of, to have found that with his eyes. It's good that I have went on this trip, he thought.
Author's Note:
It's fiction. This time it's divided into part one and two. Congratulation for the first trinity attack. I've wanted to write that for a long time. In my opinion, this round is BAS + RF. I wanted to be in Sky's position. Though I've wrote a lot, it's serious. The slogan of the story is "Everyone hyper cool!". Thanks for reading!
Translator's Note:
Sorry for a little late update. Exams started for me, and I've been addicted in playing YuGiOh Tag Force 5... Haha... I'll try to get part two update on time. ( w ) Thanks for reading!