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 11-4: Case All Cast
Characters: Nobutuna, Falt, jack, SEVEN, Billy, Riku, Ash, Sky, Mr. Sido
Chapter Summary:
To the final battle...
Bruises from the head to feet and the right wrist penetrated, a serious loss of blood. This was Ash. Bruises all over the body in addition of an awful sprain on the right foot. This was SEVEN. A serious bone fracture on the right arm and an extreme frostbite, this was Riku. Mr. whose internal organs were affected, and Billy who fell into dyspnea due to the side effect of power extract and total tiredness. Sky who chased a Tigrex had not came back. It was not exaggerating to say that this was the worst situation, but still it was a strange fierce battle that everyone survived. The lance carried through the head, or the long sword slashed the stomach, pierced through from the throat to the backbone, the neck dropped, the dead bodies of Tigrexs that laid on the ground. Counting that Sky succeeded in defeating it, there was five in total, counting the ones before, they had succeeded in subjugating nine wyverns in total.
"We must, find Sky,"
A mutter like having been delirious with heat. Nobutuna began to walk, but Mr. caught hold of his hem as he pressed his waist hardly.
"...I'll, go"
"Stay still. We'll return to the base camp once I bring Sky back"
"You can't... Nobutuna, the top,"
"What are you saying"
With a gulp, he cleared his throat, and Mr. muttered. Straight down his cheek, sweats flowed.
"There has to be, one more of them"
Nobutuna looked back slowly, and stared at the pale face.
"All these head counts, were given birth... The mother wyvern, is not here"
"...The mother wyvern?"
"The female Tigrex, after giving birth, to children... the area around the ears, will grow big. In order to hear the sounds of monsters, that will be the foreign enemies... Among the fellows which we defeated so far,"
It was not among them. The moment he said, something clogged up in his small throat came up and he turned downwards. Blood fell onto the snow. Vomiting of blood.
"Mr., don't move anymore"
"Probably, it should be still near... If we don't make the first move, it will be difficult, with this number of injuries,"
Go. By the three of you. Gently, a hand reached out unintentionally to support the body before it fell. It was not his hand that supported.
"Go..."
"Billy"
"We'll, look for Sky..."
He swallowed down something, and shook off Nobutuna's hand which was going to reach out. Go. That was the only words repeated.
"But,"
"Nobutuna, let's go"
"Falt,"
"They said they will not die. Believe in them"
Even if I believe in them. Even if they say so. His mind was at loss again. Don't hesitate, he could not look back at the pair of blue eyes which scowled at him strongly. It was easy, to believe in. However, what should he do if that result, was having lost something. What he thought about before, was not connected directly with, not believing in them. He had the duty to think ahead. It was easy to believe in them. There was nothing easier than to believe in them. They were friends that had done so far for him, he would be crazy if he could not believe in them. However, even ten percent, it was not what a leader should do to proceed without thinking about the worst possibility.
(Always, assume the worst situation and act)
In order to protect more lives. And that only meant, leaving the sacrifice to the minimum. There might be sacrifice, either.
"Nobutuna"
"... At least, all of us go back to the base camp,"
"We don't have the time for that"
Why can you be so calm. Why are you so calm like that. The confused mind, made his heartbeat intenser little by little again. Am I going to kill them? Because you will only have to entrust to me? Am I the only one, that feel so painful in this way? Am I the only one, that really want to go back together? Seeing him gripped his long sword strongly, Falt sighed.
"Everyone is scared"
Lowly, it was said low. Falt looked straightly at the eyes that turned around having been surprised, this time slowly, he tried to say brightly.
"Of course we're scared. Cause these monsters are super super big, and strong, and we'll die if we're not careful... Even though I'm holding a weapon, look, at this hand. Isn't this miserable"
He held out his small shivering hand. The fear that ran at the moment he saw the size and numbers of Tigrexs, though it was forgotten temporarily during the fight, it came back again now. Though it was after they had defeated the wyverns, though there were no enemies before them, that right hand was still shivering.
"I know that you're telling us to die. Everyone knows that, you're suffering from this. All of us are worrying for you, who is in the position to do it. Oh, that night, everyone had a hard time talking about it. You who were frightened should have noticed it also"
"..."
"Still... we went with you"
Hunters existed in order to hunt monsters. That purpose, was for protecting people,
for living, for imprudent pleasure, for oneself, and varies. Including purposes, any individuals should have some. What a hunting group should do, was that for those means.
"We think you'll say it, and we intended to obey it also. We understand that even you will be afraid... All of us are scared, there's no way that you can be the only one calm?"
No matter when, he always thinks about others. Sometime Falt expressed so to him, you for sure, and he said almost every time.
"At the point we have came, there is only one thing, that we can do for you"
"...Only one thing..."
"You took the fear we had little by little, little by little. Though we have became lighter, because you received it for you from the position you stand, your fear should have increased and doubled. There's only one thing we can do, that is to remove the root"
What are you afraid of? Are you scared that we will die?
"All we need to do is not to die, right?"
"..."
"Hey Nobutuna. Who are the ones that will kill us?"
The strong, Tigrexs. That herd, now laid on the snow without moving. The snow was soaked in blood.
"Since we have came here, that means whether we survive or die, depends on our skills as hunters separately?"
Then, there's only one thing for us to do.
"... Though it will be fine if we wind up everything and run away from here. If we don't knock down the herd, you will still be scared no matter when"
Even if we go back to the base camp, and rearrange the organization. You said that to com here, you decided to challenge this fight, if we followed, it was not possible to escape. If this choice existed, you surely would have chosen it in the first place.
"The method to remove that strong pressure from you as soon as possible... I can only think about that. For me? jack?"
"Yeah. Same for me"
"How about, you guys"
"... Agree"
"Same..."
"Finish it quickly and come back..."
"...Because"
"..."
"It will be alright because everyone is scared, I can't say that. That everyone is scared, it's not the lines of experienced G-rank hunters, doesn't that make you feel sad? But, scary things, are scary"
Surely, anyone would be scared of dying. Even if they said they were not scared, when it became that moment, the body would surely shout wanting to live.
"Thank you, for holding our parts too. Therefore, we will return the flavor this time... You should shut up and accept it"
"..."
"We'll return it properly, don't worry... The cases of me not returning money are more!"
"Falt, you're the worst-–..."
"Return, the money, properly-–..."
"Shut up idiots just sleep... Let's go, Nobutuna. These guys won't die even if you kill them. They can criticize a joke like that"
He knew that, he was acting rashly. He knew that, he was saying by force. He understood. He knew. But, they said. They said it will be fine, and believe in us all the time.
"...Return, the money"
"What-–. I got it-–, I'll return properly. Wait, have I borrowed from Nobu-chan? Haven't I only borrowed from SEVEN?"
"Me, too, you fool-–,"
"Wait-–, why did I borrow from Riku? Wine?"
"... Charges for repairing weapons..."
"...Seriously sorry. To be frank, I've forgotten about it"
"...No, way-–..."
"Well-– sorry-– my bad-– I really have forgotten about it. When we return!" When we return. Again surely.
"Nobutuna, let's go-–"
"...Okay"
He asked as if going out to hunt as usual.
(...Again, surely,)
He would break such flag off, by his hand right into two.
When evolved, the living creature must earn something no matter what.
When creatures that hid in the water longed for the land, they obtained breathing. To prey on other creatures as a method to live longer, they obtained fangs and claws. They obtained scales and hard skins in order to protect the body from predictors. Those who developed organs in order to move quicker, those who gained the sky, those who gained the fire, there were probably only all the numbers which 'could gain' among the biodiversity.
Over time, there were living creatures which understood what was called evolution in that. It was human beings. Humans were aware of themselves as they gained something through evolution. They got knowledges in order to obtain. From knowledge, in order to gain everything, they began to create various creations. For evolution.
Humans was a remarkable example, they aimed for evolution everyday and produced various things through the process. Words, letters, songs, and sciences, medical care for longevity, weapons, including items using fire, the things they acquired surely led them to evolution. But if they became excited over what they created, they would gradually became tired of the speed, and people that could not follow the terribly fast evolution would appear. The reason why differences among people was born was because they longed for the way they ought to be, they longed for evolution, and it could be said as the result of dividing those who ran at the most front and those who were not.
No one could decide which was better with conviction. For the objects which people created from knowledge, it was because situations that responsibility could not be taken by oneself were born. Because they walked too long and too fast, they did not notice they dropped something on the way. It was not possible for people to trace the way of degeneration in opposite to the way of evolution. It was because degeneration of people was always accompanied by death. People could only advance. Because they lived with time.
When it was necessary, gaining only what was needed, it was not able to lead to such an idea. They wanted all. People gained knowledge, they longed for the world, they longed for what was ahead, and they might had gotten too coos to truth. Truth was always there with death and destruction. When they arrived at what was protected by a big shell, it was because the shell had destroyed everyone.
What about other lives?
.
…Monsters,
rarely, had times to 'choose' evolution.
.
The migration of Gypceros several years ago was a good example. They tried movements, as means to survive by their habits. Though whether they intended to gain something at the lands ahead was unknown, by being able to live the same way on the lands ahead, they did not evolve. It may be said that, they ' did not choose' evolution.
Taking a long long time and evolving slowly, that life that connected to their genealogy as a seed, sometimes branched off, sometimes tied to a place which was completely not related to at all, still continued at great length. Even if they shared the same figure, the same shape, existences with totally different colors, voices and strengths may be born. That, could be expressed as, in the middle of evolution. Monsters were careful. They really slowly examined closely, picked carefully, and made much of 'kept their existences as the way how they remained were' before they chose to evolve. They consented themselves as a part of the world by instinct. Changes were against the law of nature of the world. The world accept changes as what remained as they were, but rarely, there were living creatures that was not able to bear the heartless embrace.
Monsters were not incompetent. Thinking about 'the wort case' in which they could not stand the embrace of the world, they prepared for that purpose. They also had knowledges. In the same way, though they were not more difficult than humans, they also had vivid hearts. It meant that they would also think. Even though there were no grounds, still lives continued in that way.
The movement of the habitat, the change of food, the development of knowledge, what was called the opportunity of evolution carried various aspects. Humans gained knowledge through living in different grounds, they ascertained poison in order to cope with every food, because they continued in pursing for even more and better usableness, evolution may just not stop.
She, looked up.
It was told that Tigrexs were shallow among hunters as if it was true. The way of attack, the indiscriminate predation, the figure getting furiously angry might stack the humans that lacked in the calmness. Looking at the figure that barked as a loser, a defect of intelligence and reason could be seen in the figure that destroyed everything with power in control.
But, what was the point in the characteristics of wyverns judging from the eyes of humans?
They came to appear in the snow mountains, with little preys, from the desert. Why would one said that the Tigrexs, which made that rational decision, shallow? They did not develop wings that could fly in the sky but only glide in a degree. Why would one said that Tigrexs, which chose the ground as their habitat which that was easy to secure more preys, foolish? They developed claws and fangs to destroy everything with overwhelming power and speed. Why would one comment them, who sacrificed themselves for the law of the world above all, stupid? Straightly in the law of the world, why would humans judged selfishly and decided the intention to live the way as they were, foolish?
Many hunters were foolish at that point.
But, what was the point in the characteristics of wyverns judging from the eyes of humans?
The wyvern class which may be said as the representatives of monsters which lived the way as they were, even in that the number was large, even if it was Tigrex that often became the menace of people, even if insinuated with the selfish words of people, it was meaningless. The living creatures who were the nearest to the ancestor as progenitors. To them who lived as the way they were, the dwarfish creatures which gained knowledge and only continued to evolve to the extent of longing the way they ought to be, were pridefulness and extreme.
Those who longed for the way as they were, and those who longed for the way they ought to be.
Between them, what kind of differences and meanings and reasons were needed?
Nothing was necessary.
But, because it was only so.
She looked around the snow mountains slowly.
In the white white white, the dark gold was the most outstanding. The blue lines on the running body also, shined in the green when copper was burnt. They did not have the bodies which were suitable to live on this land. In the wyvern class, Tigrexs were famous from having warm blood. On wyvern scales which opened along with anger, countless invisible holes were opened to release temperature. Still those hard scales, were relatively lighter than the other wyverns and were useful in making better armors. It may be said as fatal for them to stay in the chill for a long time. The lost temperature, movements would become dull, if fatigue attacked, they would be in a predicament at a stretch as soon as they were found be hunters.
Still, she chose the snow mountains.
The freezing cold blue and white sky also, did not shake at all like steel, and the freezing transparent blue of the cave also, was enemy to them. Popos and Antekas were nothing more than preys, like the grazing beasts which was rich in nourishment. Because originally they lived in the snow mountains with little green, the nourishments they took in gathered inside them for long, and controlled it by movements of foot-dragging. If they were being killed in one breath, meat with many nutrients could be collected.
Surely in the desert also, the herbivores Aptonoths, the small carnivorous wyvern Genpreys, Cephalos whose habits hadn't changed or a long time, and etc inhabited there, there would not be a lack in prey. But, they were creatures that lived between the incandescence and chilliness. Without eating for a day, they would die comparatively in no time. If they moved slowly like in the snow mountains to keep nourishment, they would become the target of hunting immediately. In the sense of desert, it was the land of living from hand to mouth. The property of the dessert which did not ran of of child, except the strong and proud Diablos with overwhelming strength among the grazing wyverns, all the creatures inherited the desert with breaking.
Creatures of the dessert should be in the desert.
But, she chose the snow mountains.
With the same blood flowing in the bodies, she could not hear the voices of her companions. She could not hear their ferocious roars. She looked up slightly at the sky, and stared at that sky. The graveyard of wyverns was at the far distant frozen ground, but cradle of wyverns was at this distantly sky. She turned towards that direction and her throat shook slightly, then she lowered her neck slowly. The pale round sky, the sound of scathing wind of rage, her eyelids closed and she lowered her head. In the white white white, the figure which leaned down and faced towards still at the sky, resembled closely to the gesture when a person prayed.
Suddenly, she raised her head. She lifted her body up, and looked up at the top once more slowly. And, she began to walk. In the white white white, big footprints were left. The smell of a snowstorm approaching. It might be hard for hunters, but to them also, the snow was cold and harsh.
Ruuuuu, a voice sounded indulgently in the depth of her throat. They were creatures that lived the way they were. Even if they had anger and sorrow, they did not feel hatred and grudge. Even if they might be taken over by temporary feelings, they would not be indulged in pity and memory.
The voice of her companions that could no longer be heard. She understood what that meant.
They fought. She chose the snow mountains, and they followed. This was able to be said to them of the hunting ground ahead. Therefore, they did not understand about losing. Same for dying.
Therefore, she proceeded.
In order to live the way they were, they, would not hesitate.
She probably, was not at a loss like him.
He was probably the one who came in contact most with what's called, the death of a person, jack thought with subtle conviction. Even though Mr. Sido had a lot of opportunities in the same way, he was if anything, working as a hunter doctor putting more focus on traveling over the world. Like himself, there were not many human beings who worked a hunter while thrusting out the element of a doctor. Two bundles of straws would definitely lean against either side. Those who were called and proceeded, and those who proceeded without being called, the number of opportunities being accept was different. Against the death of a person, there was many cases in which he must force himself to, feel nothing. Particularly, the times when he arrived the person was already died, were the worst. Helpless injuries and illness were equally worst too. Though he was supposed to have more techniques and knowledges than other people, even if he worked with all he had, death would fall from a high place at a stretch, and stained the person.
At that time, the violent words spitted by people, were of mere sorrow. Mere suffering. Mere regret. It was not something to force responsibility on himself. jack did not say neither I'm sorry, nor, I feel bad about it. jack who examined a lot of hunters knew well. By the side of a friend who reached death, even if there was a doctor there, in the end when he or she could not be saved, it was the fault of the party members for being no able to protect and to save. Their resentment without an outlet could not be turned against him. This was because there was no heart to spare from the sadness.
Therefore jack would only received the violent words. He would not apologize.
Still the death of a person was sad. Heavy. It was too cold to carry it for the rest of the life. Therefore, he must prevent himself from feeling it temporarily. It was all the more if it was the death of other people. Because there was never something cultivated.
Still jack knew.
Because he had family and friends and acquaintances, he understood.
..."If"
...If the world of supposition always "really existed" in the head of a person.
"If it fell onto oneself"
Both the imaginable sorrow and pain, hurter the heart realistically. Even if there were people who gritted their teeth and shed tears, they may stepped over days for a long time and dragged it onwards. People thought of someone who died and sobbed, they thought of the heart of someone, if they were influenced in the same way, they could not but remain there.
At times when the state of the body was terrible, there were people who could only cry.
There were also situations of which it was burnt so as even the face could not be told. Internal organs may be exposed so that there was no means of restoring. Every muscles from the other side of the skin which was dragged an turned may be seen. As the poison which was put inside the body started to melt, cases of people dying in pain. Bleeding of the torn off hands and legs, the broken face, the eyeballs that seemed to fall, the bare brain. Fingers and hands and feet that seemed to come off by the frostbite like rain, body that was dried up in dehydration and died. Humans were fragile. It was normal for hunters, to receive blows which even armors would be useless.
Still, if the person was temporarily alive, the pain before death was far beyond imagination.
Please kill me, jack had even once been entreated by the person in question. Letting the flesh hang down, as blood bled profusely, without permitting the fear of one's death of approaching and pain, only possible to cry. Even if the friends told him or her to live, even that would become painful to some people. Humans were very weak and small.
Therefore, death existed in the way it should be, he who had seen so many death thought so.
Although the worst relief existed, he knew a few reliefs that was not different from death.
Enormously sad, painful, and cold death. So as to rather wanting to hate it, merely vaguely the existing destruction and end. It was not an exaggerating story. The bodies of humans were fragile.
…..Always assume the worst situation, and act.
It was no one else but jack that taught Nobutuna so.
The worst situation is always next to us. Death is always beside us. For it which stuck to the backside of life, it is stupid to take no pre-inclination. Even because the others are living, death must be sticking to the other side. If their death is being afraid of, always assume their death, and you must continued to evade it.
And one more, by any chance, when we fall into the worst situation.
Your heart and mind are very important, to prevent them from dying their trailed death.
Those who are living have the responsibility to live onwards because they are living. That responsibility, always becomes a desire and return to people. Choosing death for the sense of guilt, following because of sorrow, these are the actions being held down by the desire that should have returned. As the heart cries, people have the right to live. You must not spread, the feelings that could have crushed it.
When one stopped living the way as one is, what one have will only be below despair. Eventually one will reach an extreme. The heart also, the body also, everything also.
Humans also, when they stop living the way as they are, will only be below despair.
They would not die. There were neither fatal wounds nor injuries. Though he was worried about the bleeding and the drop of body temperature, even if they were left just still for one day, they could treat themselves to the extent of staying alive as long as they were conscious. If they could return during that period, the possibility of saving all the members should be sufficient.
If.
At the present stage, if we assume the worst situation.
That, means that we are going to lose to what is ahead.
If we lose, there will be death. If we die, all the others who are only fighting with the cold below, will die as time pass. In fact, we have evaded the worst situation that is ahead. Because each of us have sacrificed ourselves little by little, the possibility of 'we can return alive if we win' still remains.
The rest, was left to the three people that stood in a line now.
"….."
It was a big wyvern, that the sizes till now were incomparable.
Bright golden wyvern scales, the blue line of deep azure on the running body. Transparent eyes. Eyes that had became slightly big, blackened claws over red. Preventing the snow mixed with the splashing wind with it's wings, it moved relaxedly and the figure resembled a small moving golden mountain.
In the white white white, the one world, seemed to stared at their direction in a gesture that had the possibilities to be said as calm. Ever since they had confirmed that figure. Without moving, like a praise, it watched them.
Having no fear was adversely having fear.
They understood that the existence in front of their eyes, was overwhelming. They knew that their legs were crossing with feelings except fear. Though it was so cold, only shivers did not well up. Without even the afford to blink, they stared back at the gold which was in the white. All three of them, merely confronted still the wyvern.
If he was to describe it, how might he express it.
Just only, simply, greatly, the beautiful wyvern.
Nobutuna stepped forward one step without saying a word. On the white snow, a small footprint was made. Two steps. Three steps. Thud, thud, thud, as the light sounds rang, they echoed up to the sky slowly. The two who were behind did not call out to him. They wanted to stand next to the back of him, who stepped out as if being possessed. Yet they were not able to approach in the same way, was probably, because they were being overwhelmed, by the one world that appeared in front of them. Nobutuna was able to step forward, because he knew the same beautiful large world.
(…Circumstances of people, do not matter at all)
Such worlds would sometimes appear, in the world of the hunters.
Surely, jack himself knew it too. Therefore, he had decided to enter the hunting group. The only beautiful single-minded world. The mere predominantly big world. Both words and sounds were unnecessary, the world that existed as it was.
When they were able to meet, the law of the world, sounded from inside his chest. Something, that reminded him of himself being a life.
Nobutuna reached his arm out. It was a terribly dangerous act, as he did not have any weapon in his hand. If it was usual, the Tigrex would not receive it. It would bit and everything would end. Destroyed and ended. But the Tigrex, shook it's soft throat slightly, and rubbed the tip of it's nose, against the small held-out hand quietly. jack did not know whether the Tigrex knew that it was those hands that slaughtered it's companions. Patting the head slowly, including the inside of Nobutuna's heart, who put it to his cheeks as if to treasure it, there was no reason to be known. Only, there was no need for the different living creatures that came in contact to exchange words.
But, surely, one world was formed.
Only simply greatly, a beautiful sad world was formed.
Only, the existence that remained the way as it was, recognized the existence that remained the way as it was, the event in an instant.
He moved his hands away slowly. They did not know the expression of him who was returning. There was only one thing, that fell and formed straightly inside himself. Surely, that would be the same for Falt too.
He who looked back suddenly, pulled his long sword. In the white white white, the color of the will that shined in still silver, with just a little color of blood, the payment point turned straight towards the wyvern. They drew their weapons in the same way. The sound of the pulled bow. Passing through gaps of the snowstorm, the roar wyvern lifted it's body. The sound of the whipped out long sword rang and echoed, then, just before the sound fade out.
Rrraaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrr.
A roar, rumbled through the snow mountains.
Vacantly, white, spreader in front.
The temperature of somebody was beside. He turned his neck. He remembered being carried up by force. Mr. Sido, was laying beside with eyes closed. A sound from his throat. A distress which was not connected directly with pain, shook his brain.
(…I have made, them involved)
Because he was helpless alone, it was surely himself that called them. He looked for his friends that were involved. He could see puddles of blood here and there, but most of them belongs to the dead Tigrexs. He stood up quietly, but his legs were unsteady. It was painful. His consciousness wavered.
One person, caught the arms of someone that fell down. Though he could not see the prostrated face, an extent of treatment had been carried out. The bleeding of the right arm had not stopped yet, the white bandages were dyed in red, it gradually shifted the snow to red. Drag. Drag. His consciousness shook. Arriving at the point, he finally let go of his hand.
In the absentminded view, he looked again. He did not know his breath. The drifting white was probably something caused by breathing, but he could not feel any warmth in it. He couldn't even shiver anymore. He tried to look for hot drink, but first towards the people he found in front, he approached with swaying legs. He dragged. He might had a little consciousness, a groan. The legs heading towards a strange course, twitched physiologically reflectively. He let go of his hands.
One by one, one by one, he gathered his companions in one place in this way. Half of them could not move. Still in order to let parts that came in contact increased, as if to pile up, each somehow tried to stay closer. One, two, three, he counted the numbers, and noticed that one was missing. Sky was not here. He recalled that one, had surely, chased after a wyvern down to the other side. Not being able to hear any voices of the Tigrex, meant that the subjugation should have been succeeded. But still seeing that he was not able to move from there alone, seeing that he had not returned, he too might not be able to get away with it.
Breathing was hard. The internal organs expanded, and the nausea was severe. Without being able to defy what came to, his knees collapsed. He avoided lying down by turning down an arm, but he was not able to leave what came to inwards. Color of blood was mixed with what he vomited.
(….I must go,)
He had said that, they would look for him.
It was a promise. He must not break it.
He was not able to stand up. His knees were disappointingly buried among the snow, and it became cold immediately. Still, he pushed his knees. He must look for him. He was the only one that could already move. He must look for him.
(I'm the one, that involved them into this,)
For the dear village, he made his dear friends shields.
They nodded. Surely it must have been a judgement of distress. On the backside of Nobutuna's expressions that could not be seen so, how much fear and uneasiness he had, was not on the level that could be guessed. In order to let everyone survive, still he made the best decision. They were still alive. They lived. He must look for him. Because all of them were going to live and return.
(….No,)
I hate dying.
I don't want everything to end in a place like this.
In a place like this, I don't want anybody besides me to end.
(…I'm, the one that got them involved,)
He understood that he was in a condition of limit. Though he knew, in fact he tried to cope with it, and he was upset as if to accept it like a breath.
He was about to murder them.
(No,)
Without regards to the very front that got dizzy, he dragged his legs and proceeded. Landing on his hands helplessly, he advanced forward by crawling. Something came to again. This time the taste of blood spreader in his mouth at a stretch. What was spitted out polluted the snow and dissolved.
They had a place to return to.
There were people waiting for them.
Surely, Tharros must still be waiting for him in the village. She might be fighting also. Absorbedly. Only earnestly, to accomplish the life as a hunter.
He must return.
All of them must return.
(I must look for him,)
He was about to murder them.
It was a lie. It was a lie to murder them. It was lie to die. It was not themselves to end in a place like this. He groveled, and he let a trace on the snow. The body shivering, the veiled view, the smell of the snowstorm, the limbs that could not move.
Where is the breath.
Where, is my breath.
Where is the evidence of living.
The very front turned. Oh, without a mutter, his consciousness became jet-black in a blink.
Bow was not for pulling. It was to push. He noticed about it when he happened to meet a group of Congalala when he was young. Chipping the strength of the opponents, he defeated them one by one, but in the middle, he hurter his right arm greatly. The pain ran about, still he must pull the bow, yet, when he was not able to pair, he could just not put power in his right arm.
He clicked his tongue as blood overflowed, then he just caught an arrow with his right hand, and pushed his left arm forward holding the bow. Of course, he did put little power into his right arm, but the arrow that was released at that time was more precise and incomparable than the ones before, pierced stronger into the front of the opponent.
He realized that his left arm became the axis. He thought if he did not pull the arrow with his right hand in full power it wouldn't fly far, but he wrong. It might be said that Riku was fortunate as he had damaged his right arm. As long as he had his left arm, even when he held the bow, because the bone where the load was hung over broke, arrows could not fly so far. Still he was able to pull the bow with his broken right arm, might merely be because of his guts.
He laid strength on his left arm. The axis did not shake, and the arrowhead aimed straightly at the eyes. It was the usual practice of Falt. The head at the high position was hard to aim with long sword and dual swords, and in that, the eyes could be said as fatal if lost. Though there were monsters which were sensitive to smells and sounds, the world would fall if the eyes were lost. If the world fell, it was difficult to feel others and the world.
Penetrating the vital part precisely, was apt to be thought as vulgar, but against monsters with overwhelming powers, if he did not pick the vulgar method, they were going to die. Because he had once lost his view, he could easily imagine the inconvenience and uneasiness.
At the moment the power went around the top, an arrow came out of his right hand without permission. The wind sounded as if going through his cheeks. Without a pause he drew another arrow, but the arrow that flew never hit the eyes. Whether it knew about it or not, the Tigrex shook it's neck greatly, and it's firm back and tail brushed off the arrow. Still he hoped that the effect of paralysis on sticking arrow would appear.
He jumped behind greatly to pause. Sound of the wind echoing through the quiet snow mountains.
The long sword of Nobutuna fluttered, and to the arms and claws, innumerable cuts were made. Cutting the snow with the dance of the dual swords, blood begun to show little by little as jack attacked. But the wyvern did not shake. Letting it's body became red in a second, a roar sounded from it's chin to drink the two in short distances.
(….There's no hesitation)
It could be used to describe the Tigrex, but it could be used to describe Nobutuna too. Falt did not know whether were there any among the weapons of jack. Because he had shared a long time with Nobutuna, he could say with conviction that hesitation had disappear from his long sword.
Once in the past. When they were still young, after around one year since they took weapons in the Secret Guild. The arms of Nobutuna which showed ager itself, hatred itself, and every feelings towards the monsters, were very keen and sharp. But, he was injured also.
The attacks were straight but reckless, defense did not matter at all, he did not mind even if he died, he handled his sword badly with a burning heart. Falt remembered if he recalled, the silver trace in front of his eyes, were of a comfortable clear and vivd sound of steel.
He, had became a strong sword.
It was transparent forever, the trace that circulated and returned, turned against the opponent making a clear sound, and licked the blood. Cutting even the splashing blood, it did not even stayed on it.
Along with the breath, heavily, deeply, the beautiful blade cut the enemy.
(….He, has changed a lot…)
Though Falt himself had changed, that fellow had changed very much.
Would that be evolution.
If so, what had he obtained.
He pulled the bow, the sound of the string, arrows that flew out, jack's swords pierced deeply into the foot of the wyvern. A scream that sounded different from a roar echoed. Without missing the moment it's movement became dull, the long sword aimed at the throat. He pushed his left arm out with all his power to assist. Not to mention aiming only at the eyes, one point.
The wyvern shook it's neck. Letting go of one sword which did not fall out, jack leaped. Nobutuna's body entered between without thinning, and resisted the tusks with his sword. Ginn, a scathing sound echoed, the flying arrow reflected in the eyes that looked back towards him.
The wyvern raised a roar, and it's body was in agony. When the arrow pierced deeply, good, he nodded inside his heart. The chance of victory made a sound and approached.
Taking the sword that pierced deeply in his hands again, jack turned his body again and jumped to it's steps. He grasped the handle of the small sword, ad pulled it out in a blow. He received the surging blood in the face, still with a pause, he kicked the ground, from just beside the tail cut the wind, broke the view, and straightly,
"…jack!"
Nobutuna's voice sounded. The back hit the far-off rock, and the the body fell to the ground. Zack, zack, two swords fell to the snow, and blood of the Tigrex dropped idly. Blurring not he snow, blood bled from somewhere.
"jack! Hey, answer me!"
A voice jumped out for the stomach unintentionally. He did not move.
"Nobutuna! Take control for a while!"
"Got it!"
Hearing the answer Falt ran straight toward where jack was. He lifted the body that fell down on the stomach. He was breathing. The bleeding. Dark red blood streamed down his arm. Dark red, which meant the artery was injured.
"….,"
A little above the right clavicle became a little distorted and dented. The armor was broken, and the part which became sharp pushed deep into the skin. It was a very terrible single blow. From there which was wounded, blood overflowed. Falt gritted his teeth. Working hard on the broken armor, he pulled up the pieces in sequence. He could not take off the whole armor. In the snow mountains, he could not do treatments with the injured unconsciousness like a doctor.
"jack! Wake up! How can you as a doctor got blown off and finished!"
There was no reply. In spite of making appeals, he took a roll of white cloth from the porch for emergencies which was shut tightly. He pushed and packed it into the hole on the armor, but the bleeding was severe, and the cloth turned red in no time. Wondering whether were there more cloth, he looked inside his porch, but not much was left as most had been used for the medical treatment for the party below a while ago.
In this situation, by bleeding and the lose of heat from there, he would completely fell into a weakening state.
(….Shit,)
Although he poured potions and looked, the effects were light, but the bleeding only slightly slowed down. Dragging the white cloth, if he squeezed with one hand, blood scattered down onto the snow in large drops. He poured the second bottle of potion, and packed once again the cloth which became red, and held it down desperately. The voice calling did not stop.
"jack! jack! Hey, open your eyes! Please, don't kick the bucket in such a place! jack! I still owe you one!"
For an instant, he though about tearing off the armor. But, the wyvern was still in the rear. If he took a fatal blow here, he could not be saved anymore. He understood, this was already almost an injury that could not be saved said in the commoners. Because hunters had strengthened their bodies, breathing would not stop by the shock nailed over the rock.
"jack! The treatment of my eyes are not remarkably complete yet! Don't you leave your patient down there and sleep here! jack! Open your eyes!"
A terrible roar sounded behind. Falt looked up unintentionally, the back figure of a small human trembling was there. He took his bow in a hurry and shot the back. Nobutuna returned to his conscious incidentally, and he could see him coming at the last minute between him and the wyvern reflectively. Falt chewed his lips. If he could face against such a big Tigrex alone, the ability of Nobutuna must have already exceeded what a Guild Knight had.
Till when can you stand. If he got bitten during the treatment, he would certainly die also.
At least if he opens his eyes.
"Falt!"
He raised his face reflectively hearing the cry. The wyvern went into motion, and was going to scoop out the snow. He gritted his teeth, held the body of jack, and jumped. A lump of snow hit the place where they were just now, and broke. A drop of ice split opened and beater against his cheek. Carrying him by force, he just examined the wounds. The overflowing blood had already dyed the armor red. THe cheeks became pale.
With an alarm, he felt a sense that his lungs froze.
"Falt! Falt! Get up, run!"
"…Tsk,"
After a short bark, the Tigrex dashed towards this direction, continuing the attacks as he edged back, the voice of Nobutuna that tried to stop it. The Tigrex was not daunted. It was not at a loss. It went straight the course where the smell of blood was. Falt tried to run dragging him whom he was carrying. Blood dripped from his foot who was tall, leaving a trace on the snow. It doesn't matter where, where is the place that can dodge that charge.
The moment he thought he was going to be hit, along with a dull pain, something white danced to the side of his face.
"jack!"
Opening the small bag left in the hand, powder danced from there like a thin white veil. Closed wounds were cured, he who opened his eyes, laughed with blood dropping from his lips.
"….This, is the last one….."
Showing him the last small bag, a sound came from the bag, and Falt realized as he saw the eyes of him laughing. They could not evade it. He slightly turned and looked back towards the voice that called their names, he could see Nobutuna with a deep trace of blood left on the side, shouting desperately.
"…..I don't mind"
He laughed back.
He took two potions out from the porch, these were the lasts. jack's porch was empty even if he searched. Sorry, Nobutuna, muttering in the backside of his throat, he looked back. The claws of the Tigrex. Feet. Tusks. Shadow. Greatly.
Pain rummaged in his brain, without a pause, the foot trod over the little bag of lifepowder that jack threw. With a crack, the fake made a sound and broke, and a chill flocked on his cheeks at a stretch. Oh, sorry, pale. Will you protect me, too?
Along with the breath that returned, he threw the potions left in his hands towards Nobutuna, who stared in utter amazement.
The Tigrex charged towards this direction like a chase, and his shoulder got caught on the forefoot, conspicuously a loud sound echoed inside him, the feeling of being cut, the lost sense, the gushed out pain, the blow that began to bleed without giving a scream. Feeling on the cold snow, blood spreader on the snow in front in a breath, and dark fell before his eyes in no time.
Would it be good to name it pain.
A roar higher and more distant than the wyvern echoed.
He heard the sound sound of a blade fluttering. He heard the scathing sound that tore the wind. The light of silver echoed through the depths of his eyes over and over again, and red danced here and there in the same way. In the sense of a nearby distant, the streamlined fighting spirit only, hit straight towards the big gold.
(Oh, right, Nobutuna,)
You, only that will, never shake from the roots.
As you hesitate, as you regret, still, a part of you never shake. No hesitation.
A small shadow in the very front. It was a piece of his pale who protected him a while ago.
(…Hey, if it's him, do you think he can win)
He touched it with his trembling fingers. From the firm cold touch, he felt no warmth.
(Hey pale, if it's that fellow do you think he can win?)
His consciousness, dropped.
Without spares of hot drink, Nobutuna moved somehow moved the two people to a rock shade that acted as a windbreak with his cold fingers.
He stopped the bleeding.
He stopped the fatal wounds with the last potion.
Finally, this is the end, and he turned around. The prostrated wyvern. The golden wyvern that did not move. The color of blood red disappearing slowly. The blowing wind spilled on his forelock, and patted his eyelashes annoyingly.
Still it was a relief. Everything had ended. If they returned to the village, there would be nothing to worry anymore. The fear was wiped out. All that threatened them were knocked down.
However, he felt slightly uneasy. He shook his head and waved it off.
The moment he was going to carry the two people, a roar sounded, and Nobutuna's back froze.
"…."
It was the direction of the top.
(…..Oneself alone cannot protect it, but when one has something that one must protect, humans would look for friends, and ask for help….. Even monsters, feel the same about that)
Words of Sky revived.
If his words shot the mark.
What would be the object that this huge lied-down Tigrex in front, wanted to protect?
(One, more,)
Would that mean so.
"….Nobutuna"
It was a dim dim voice.
"You heard it?"
"Heared it clearly…..…."
Opening his eyes slightly, Falt turned his head. Their eyes engaged. The fingers grasping the piece of the fake shook.
"…It's quite, a loud, voice"
"…."
"It sounded, slightly different…..from the ones, till now"
What is it. Towards the words told, he gritted his teeth. Don't say any further. Looking back down with eyes praying, Falt traveled across it refreshingy.
.
"Go"
.
"…"
"I'm alright…. jack, is breathing too. One of my hands, can move too. I can stop, his bleeding, as I stop mine too"
Though there's no potions, traps, nothing let anymore. Weapons were the only thing in their hands.
"Go, Nobutuna… You're the only one, that can move"
"…..If there's only, one more,"
"Nobutuna"
His name was being called to reprove it, and tears almost over flowed like a child. Falt laughed. Covered with blood, he laughed.
"You can win. Even by yourself"
"….."
"You can surely win. Because we'll wait for you"
You will not lose. Because you do not have the reason to lose.
"If you die, we'll surely die too. Let me, make it cear…. Go, Nobutuna"
You are a hunter.
If you're a hunter, then hunt.
"…Even if we die, even if we live, it doesn't matter. Nobutuna, go…."
"Falt,"
"It doesn't matter… You, are a hunter. We too, are so. Therefore….. it doesn't matter. Go"
If there, is a monster.
If there is a fellow stronger than ourselves, if those fellows show their fangs.
If they who live the way they remained moved into our eyes, if it is a hunter that takes weapon in hands.
"On behalf of us, go and look…."
At the world.
At the large large world.
"…Tell us about it, later"
"…."
jack stirred. He raised his eyes a little. Hearing the words muttered at the ear, Falt laughed. He's saying the same thing, Nobutuna.
"We'll wait for you"
Go.
Surely you'll like to see it too, right?
Flying over death and live, you'll want to see the world that is there in the way it is, right?
.
We know. Because, we're, hunters.
.
He knew that Nobutuna was staring still at this direction. Slowly, the eyesight of the opened eyes slowly fade.
Turning around, a tread on the snow. A sound going away. The long sword came in contact with something, hearing the clear silver sound played, Falt let go of his consciousness once again.
The piece of the fake which he was holding, made a low sound, and fell onto the snow.
When evolved, the living creature must earn something no matter what.
.
…Monsters,
rarely, had times to 'choose' evolution.
.
The movement of the habitat, the change of food, the development of knowledge, what was called the opportunity of evolution carried various aspects.
Why did the Tigrexs, came to the snow mountains.
What did they wanted to do, here.
"….So it's for you…"
In the white white white, was a vivid, sharp, black.
A body which let the golden enlarged to black gold. Smaller than all the Tigrexs till now, a small child wyvern. Surely the long tail and claws were black from the moment it was born, the eyes that looked at the distant sky from the top of the snow mountain, were in the color of wealthily golden. The form was surely a Tigrex. It looked up at the sky as if trying to grow, receiving the thin flickered snow, including the state of it looking puzzled, by all odds it was a Tigrex.
"Those fellows, protected you…"
The appeal was a soliloquy.
.
…Monsters,
rarely, had times to 'choose' evolution.
.
He knew the fact that the number of subspecies of monsters were increasing. It was the mind of the nature, an idea of the world, it was often being handled easily, but who might testify that the birth of subspecies was not an evolution?
Subspecies, had the same structure as the progenitors, but something was predominately different. Even if the form was the same, there were many differences in the color and parts. Why was it so, was not talked about much often. It was a fact that the subspecies were loud for many colors, but the change of physical color, was directly connected to self-protection. Originally, many changed their natural color to fit with the surrounding, subspecies often asserted themselves by their colors and bodies.
They appealed for life towards the world.
The fact that subspecies were born, as an appeal to the world. And, the world permitted. In order to live the way they were, they tried to survive by any means, and tendency of calling for power was strong. This was an example of why many subspecies were stronger than their progenitors.
The confirmation report of the Tigrex subspecies was not told. It was said that there were no subspecies of the Tigrexs.
Then, what would be the black black beautiful wyvern in the very front.
"….In order to give birth to you, that Tigrex risked it's lives, and sacrificed it's companions….."
The huge Tigrex which prostrated wanted to prove to the world, that Tigrexs too, demanded for power in order to live. It wanted, the permission.
Many of it's companions must have been scattered by the hands of hunters. In it's own way with the name of the strongest, the wyvern class which was not classified as Elder Dragons.
"You, are born….."
A cry sounding indulgently. The child wyvern which looked towards his direction slowly, waved it's tail innocently. What kind of curiosity did it have towards the small shadow that stared at it. When would it noticed, that the small shadow was the human being who slaughtered it's mother.
One world, became big.
The fact was able to make one shivered.
He pulled his long sword out. From the depths of his chest to deep inside his ears, he heard a song.
The life is born, the life runs out. The life arises, the life refined.
The sun rises, the sun sinks. The tide rises, the tide goes down.
Oh. The eyes turned towards this direction, that wyvern smelled the blood, and showed it's fangs slowly. It lifted it's body and groaned lowly. The held long sword, the silver will.
Living means dying. Dying means living.
Knowing the meaning of death, knowing the meaning of life.
You are born to live, and we fought to live, your companions too fought because you are alive. Dead, lived, dead, returned.
We too possibly, all of us might live. We might die.
He grasped the handle of his long sword. He did not feel the cold. There was no pain. There was no fear. Only calmly, he listened carefully to something which welled up in a drowse.
Those to eat and those which are eaten.
Fire and water, sky and earth.
The world expanses, in one's will.
All has a meaning, all does not have a meaning.
According to the law of nature of the world, the people who only drifted continuously, gave up the way as they were, and longed for the way they wanted to be.
Surely, the Tigrex also, dyed it's body because it longed for it. To the everlasting beautiful black, that could not be stained by nobody.
From fear, anger, sorrow, to joy, surely, must have been there in the way they were. Surely the figure which humans longed for, must be one of the law of nature of the world.
Both prayers and wishes, were only the wills that lied in the world.
Born because we long for, long for because we are born, fight because we long for.
The world revolves, the world returns.
To the great will where all dwells in.
"….It seems to be called as the Song with Souls (魂を宿す唄) "
Hey, can you hear it.
The song of wanting to live, the voice of your own soul.
All the hunters want to hear this song which sounded inside themselves, they run on the hunting grounds.
"I've been wanting to meet you…. Tigrex!"
Okay, let's live, each other, risking our deaths.
Even if you are strong, even if I'm strong, it doesn't matter. As this song leads, let's continue to live.
(Both you and I are being protected, protect, and surely live on,)
Neither fear, nor hatred, nor sorrow, nor rage were needed there.
Neither any meaning, nor reason, responsibility and duty and crime were needed anymore.
Surely, it was only so.
.
The will of silver and the will of black gold, fluttered, and finished running through the white white spiral.
.
That will surely, weaved towards the sky.
Among all with wills, for eternal and ever, the genealogy of hunters.
Author's Note:
It's fictional. Have you ever heard the Song with Souls? The ending is still ahead. It's a little crossover with 3rd. I like Tigrexs most. The genealogy is going to continue. Because there are hunters.
Translator's Note:
This times' translation took a little long cause I tried to look for the translation of the song ( • w • ) In the end, I worked on it myself. The lyrics were translated from the japanese version, the original lyrics could be found in the booklet of the CD or on websites. It was a really beautiful song. It would be honor if you can listen to this song after reading it. Feel free to search for 魂を宿す唄 on youtube~