10 - The Scars Left by Calamity Run Deep
Ray woke up to a loud sound that shook the cave, and at the same moment, Kamiira tumbled into the room. Ray tried to rush toward her in a panic, but the chains binding his limbs got in the way.
"Eh? Kamiira-san?"
Why was he chained up? Ray didn't know.
"You're awake? Good. That saves me the trouble of waking you up."
"No, these chains? And that sound?"
"The Human Race has appeared. That sound is them trying to break the barrier."
"...Please, take these off right now! I'll fight too!"
What he had feared had become reality. Whether they had been aiming for this place from the start or had found it by chance, he didn't know, but the army had reached this location.
"No. I can't do that."
"Why!?"
"Because there's no need."
"...What do you mean?"
"Calling it an army was a bit of an exaggeration. There are thirty people at most."
"Ah, then it's not a number we can't defeat?"
"Yes, as long as the Heroes aren't there."
"H-Heroes?"
At those unexpected words, Ray's eyes widened. The natural enemy of the Demon Race. To Ray, who possessed a mindset leaning toward the demons, Heroes were nothing but objects of terror.
"Heroes are accompanying them. Apparently, three of them. Ray-kun, no matter how hard you try, you're no match for them. Even I wasn't a match."
It was then that Ray first noticed that Kamiira was covered in wounds. The phrase "battered and bruised" perfectly described her state.
"...What do you intend to do?"
"That's why I came to talk. I have a request. Will you listen?"
"Of course."
"Actually, I hadn't planned on seeing you again, Ray-kun. But it's come to this."
"...Why?"
"I thought this would be the perfect opportunity for you to leave this forest. You aren't a demon, Ray-kun. Moreover, seeing you chained up like this, there's a possibility you'll be protected."
Even if the food situation was gradually improving, it hadn't been completely resolved. Even if it were, she didn't want Ray to spend his entire life in this forest. She had wanted to let him out of the forest someday. Kamiira had been thinking that for a while. And this was the perfect, and final, opportunity.
"So... but I don't want that!"
"Even so, you can't just let yourself be killed, right? Besides, at this point, I want you to be protected by the Human Race, even if it's against your will."
"Why?"
"Rui was captured."
"What!?"
"We don't have much time, so just listen."
"...Yes."
"This is just my guess, but their goal is to obtain some information about this forest. For that reason, they're trying to capture us without killing us."
"If that's the case..."
"You're saying I should just let myself be captured? I can't do that. You know why, right? If I'm captured alive, what kind of things I'll be subjected to..."
Kamiira was a beautiful demon, and moreover, she possessed the Charm ability that stimulated instincts. Ray knew all too well what would happen. For Ray, who harbored feelings for Kamiira, even imagining it was horrifying.
"............"
"I don't want to taste such humiliation. Besides, I can't hand over information about the forest."
"That means..."
"I intend to die here."
"I see..."
Considering what would happen if she were captured, Ray could immediately understand why Kamiira reached this conclusion. The desire for her to live, and the desire for her not to suffer a miserable fate. Caught between these two feelings, Ray's heart went into a defensive mode, and he suddenly became calm.
"That's where I have a request for you, Ray-kun."
"What... is it?"
"Kill me."
"What!?"
But even for Ray, who had suppressed his emotions, Kamiira's request shook his heart. Ignoring Ray's reaction, Kamiira continued with words that surprised him even further.
"And Rui, too. I want you to kill Rui, who has been captured."
"T-That's... I can't."
"Rui will be an adult soon. Even if she weren't, the Human Race's treatment of demons is cruel. I don't want Rui to suffer."
"But even so..."
"I'm sorry. I thought of you as a son, Ray-kun. That's how I felt. But when push comes to shove, to prevent myself and Rui from suffering, I'm trying to make you suffer."
"............"
"I'm sorry."
"...I understand asking about Rui. But why you too, Kamiira-san?"
"Do you mean I should die by my own hand? I can't do that. That would be a profanation of the world. Besides, in order to ask you to take care of Rui, and so that you can survive in this world afterward, I'm hoping you can make use of my power."
"You want me to absorb your power? But there's no guarantee it'll work."
"Even so, it's worth trying. And not just power, I want you to receive my knowledge as well."
"I can't possibly..."
"I'll use my ability for that. I don't know if it'll work on you since you aren't of the Vampio race, Ray-kun. But I think I can probably do it. Well, not everything. Some personal things are a bit embarrassing."
Kamiira made a light joke to try and soften Ray's feelings, but in this situation, Ray didn't react to the joke. His strained expression didn't waver.
"...I still can't. There's no way I could ever kill you, Kamiira-san!"
"I know I'm asking the impossible. But please. Give me a proud death. And Rui, too. Don't let the Human Race give us the humiliation of defiling our bodies and hearts."
"That's..."
The prospect of Kamiira being violated was a humiliation that would drive Ray mad. However, that didn't make it easy to accept killing the person he loved with his own hands.
...Switch. I'll do it.
Another voice echoed in the heart of the hesitating Ray.
You...
You know it too! That this is for Kamiira-san's sake!
He understood it in his head. But his emotions wouldn't allow it. That was Ray's current state.
Even so!
You, with your strong feelings for Kamiira-san, can't do it. That's why I'll do it. That's my role.
............
Switch.
No!
Switch!
No. I'll do it.
...It's impossible.
"I'll do it. I have to be the one to do it!"
He spoke the conversation in his heart aloud to solidify his feelings.
"Ray-kun?"
"...Kamiira-san, I understand. I will kill you, and Rui."
Stop it! If you do that, your heart will break for real this time!
Ray's heart was strong. But that strength was simply a result of his heart being frozen solid. Lacking flexibility, it would shatter into pieces if a single hole were made. And this was an impact sufficient to create that one hole.
"I see. I'm truly sorry. And, thank you."
Stop it!
"Shut up! I've already decided! This is something I, myself, must do!"
You...
"Ray-kun? Ah, I see. The other Ray-kun is against it. I'm sorry. I must apologize to you as well. Because of my selfishness, I'm hurting your precious self."
...You call this just 'hurting'?
"That's fine. So, what should I do?"
Ray had no intention of conveying the other Ray's words to Kamiira. Before his resolve could waver, he pushed the conversation forward.
"Stab me with this sword. I'll pass on my knowledge just before I die."
"Not the knowledge first?"
Ray voiced his question while receiving the sword from Kamiira.
"I'm passing on the memories of a single person. Even if I don't pass on everything, it'll still be a vast amount. When you receive it, your head will be in total chaos for a while. You'll likely be unable to move freely. No, you'll almost certainly faint."
"...I see."
"Well then, shall we begin? It's getting a bit noisy. It doesn't seem like there's much time before they reach this room."
Just as Kamiira said, the clamor was gradually approaching the room. It was the sound of the Human Race who had broken the barrier entering the cave.
"You're right. Then..."
Ray poised the sword, aiming it at Kamiira's chest. However, he couldn't move his arm immediately.
"...Please, hurry. There's no time."
"I-I know."
"Hurry!"
"Ugh, waaaaaaaaah!!"
Screaming, Ray thrust his arm forward. In sync with that movement, Kamiira leaned her body forward. The tip of the sword pierced deep into Kamiira's chest. The moment he felt that sensation in his arm, Ray's feelings collapsed with a crash.
"Ugh, ah, Ka-Kamiira-san! Kamiira-san!!"
"Be... quiet..."
"Ka-Kamiira-san! Don't die! Kamiira-san!"
"It's... not... over... yet..."
"Waaaaah!"
"Enough."
"Ngh, mmuh."
Kamiira forcibly pressed her lips against the mouth of Ray, who continued to scream her name. Lips overlapping lips. The sensation was even stronger and deeper than when they first met, but no flutter like before was born in Ray's heart, only a ripping pain wounded his soul. Then, Kamiira's memories flooded into Ray's head.
"U-Uwaah!"
Kuh, it's... heavy. Guh...
The vast memories flowing into his head, the dense magical power flowing from his arm. Unable to withstand the pressure of both, Ray's two consciousnesses stopped thinking. In the midst of a pressure like a raging storm, he spent all his effort just trying to keep himself from being swept away. Along with Kamiira collapsing to the floor, Ray's consciousness sank deep.
"What is it!?"
"Hey! I heard a scream!"
"This way! Don't let your guard down!"
The Human Race who heard Ray's scream gathered toward the room. What they saw when they leaped into the room, while remaining cautious, was Kamiira's corpse rolling on the floor, scorched by black flames, and Ray, still in chains, sitting on the floor and muttering something.
"What is the meaning of this?"
A knight clad in particularly magnificent armor asked the knight beside him.
"I do not know. When we entered the room, it was in this state. The demon's corpse still retained its original form, however."
Kamiira's corpse had already burned away, leaving only something like ash on the floor.
"Hmm. And this man?"
"He does not look like a demon. Moreover, despite appearances, he is quite young, perhaps an age that could even be called a child."
"With this?"
Ray's hair had lost its pigment and had become almost pure white. Combined with his emaciated body, at a glance, it wouldn't be strange to mistake him for a small old man.
"Yes. He is quite debilitated, but judging by his facial features, he is not an old man."
"You said he is not a demon?"
"Yes. I cannot say for certain, but he possesses none of the characteristics of a Vampio. His canines are normal, and his skin color is different from that of a Vampio."
"Is he not a kin?"
"No bite marks are visible. Moreover, if he were kin, the same characteristics should be appearing."
"Meaning?"
"I cannot say clearly, but as one possibility, he may be a human who was captured by the demons here. Though I do wonder if there would actually be a human in such a place."
"There is a possibility he was brought from outside the forest."
The knights' conversation was proceeding in the direction Kamiira had hoped.
"Yes. However, would they go through the trouble of doing such a thing? Also, if that were the case, I do not understand why they left him without making him kin."
"Hmm. Can he speak?"
"Whether he is conscious or not... even when spoken to, he only mutters something and does not react. I cannot make out the muttering well."
"Hmm."
After listening to his subordinate's report, the knight approached Ray. Ray's state was exactly as the subordinate knight had said. He remained sitting on the floor, muttering something under his breath.
"Hey! Can you hear me!?"
"...mi...ra. ...did."
"Hey!? Who are you!? Are you human? What is your name!?"
"Ka..."
"Ka what? Is that your name?"
"Ka... mii... I..."
"Kami? ...Kamui? Hey, is that your name?"
"...Hm?"
"Is that so? And you? Why are you in a place like this?"
"...sh-shh, b-be quiet. N-now..."
"Hey? What is it?"
"I'm busy! Just leave me alone for a bit!"
"What did you say!?"
"Ah, crap, I overdid... it..."
"Hey? Hey!? What happened!?"
"............"
Ray collapsed to the floor. After that, no matter how loudly they shouted or how strongly they shook his body, he showed no reaction.
"It seems he has lost consciousness."
"No, Myriad General, just now was..."
Not that he lost consciousness, but that he made the other lose it. The knight could not voice these words.
"What is it?"
"No, it is nothing. So, what shall we do?"
"Hmm. He is not a Vampio. But the possibility that he is another type of demon cannot be denied, can it?"
"Yes. Meaning..."
"Capturing one should be enough. If he were an unknown demon, we might suffer an unexpected defeat."
"Understood."
Drawing the sword from his waist, the knight stepped toward Ray. The knight poised the sword to thrust it into Ray, who had now completely lost consciousness.
"Stop! Please stop!"
A woman's scream echoed in the room, stopping him.
"...Hinata-dono, I see."
A woman wearing a white robe with black eyes and black hair. Seeing the woman's sharp gaze, the knight called the Myriad General gave a slight signal to his subordinate. Confirming this, the subordinate knight sheathed his sword for the time being.
"What is the matter? With such a scary face."
"Please stop already. This is enough."
"However, if he is a dangerous existence, this is the natural procedure."
"Was the goal not to capture him?"
"That is true. But the opponent is a demon."
"Even so, is he not a child!?"
"That is..."
Ray thought she had seen through him as a child at a glance, but apparently, that wasn't it.
"Myriad General."
A knight who had followed behind the woman called Hinata spoke up.
"What is it?"
"One was hiding in the depths of the cave."
"Hmm. And?"
"There were no casualties on our side, and we successfully slew them, but..."
"Is there a problem?"
"It was a child! A girl about five or six years old! Must we kill even such a young girl!?"
It was the woman called Hinata who answered the Myriad General's question. Understanding the meaning of those words, the knight's face distorted slightly.
"I see... Hinata-dono, even if they are young, a demon is a demon. Even if they are young now, they will grow up to attack humans."
"That's..."
"Moreover, the demons show no mercy, even to children. Why must we show mercy to such an opponent?"
"............"
Demons are evil. For a woman who had been taught that, there were no words to retort when told such a thing.
"Do you understand now?"
"Regarding demons. But is that child a demon?"
"That is..."
"I heard the conversation. You aren't certain that they are a demon, are you? Do the knights intend to kill even such an opponent?"
"It is not quite like that. Since they were unknown, we were simply cautious."
"Caution toward an unconscious opponent?"
"There is a possibility they are pretending. On the battlefield, one must never let their guard down. That is all."
"...I understand that. Then, Bacchus-san, what do you ultimately intend to do with that child?"
"...I will restrain them and take them to the royal capital. After that, we will conduct an interrogation."
Judging that this was not a scene to force his way through, he decided to proceed in the manner the woman desired.
"In other words, you won't kill them. I can assume that, right?"
"Yes, that is fine. Hey, remove those chains and put him in a cage. Do not forget to restrain him properly again."
"Yes, sir."
Receiving the Myriad General's order, the knights set about removing the chains. They ignored the keys. They simply used an axe to cut through the chains with brute force. After cutting the chains on both arms and restraining them with different fittings, they did the same for both legs. Throughout this, Ray remained unconscious.
"...This is..."
One of the knights performing the task muttered.
"What is it?"
"Not only is he a child and the shackles don't fit, but his arms and legs are too thin, they seem like they'll slip out."
"...Then tie him up with rope over them."
"How cruel!? Please treat him more gently!"
"Hinata-dono. This is for the safety of everyone, including yourself. No matter if these are the words of Hinata-dono, a member of the Heroes, I cannot obey."
The woman called Hinata was one of the three Heroes Kamiira had mentioned. A woman with black eyes and black hair, possessing the same characteristics Ray originally had.
"...I understand. Then, at least treat his wounds."
"We will handle that as well. Hinata-dono, please prepare for the return. We cannot stay in the forest for long. Now that the mission is accomplished, we should return promptly."
"...But..."
"Now, could you proceed with the preparations along with the others? We will also leave the cave shortly."
"I understand."
Perhaps giving up on the knights who wouldn't listen to a word, she left the room with a reluctant look.
"Myriad General, isn't that a bit too harsh?"
"Hmm. I am aware, but we cannot show too much mercy to demons. Those three were summoned to this world to fight demons. It would be problematic if they forgot that role."
"...That is true. However, Otherworlders are terrifying. Even though it hasn't even been a year since they started training, they were overwhelming the demons."
"Well. However, the opponent's strength was likely only mid-to-low among demons. Even so, it is surprising at this stage."
"Yes."
"Now, it is a fact that we cannot dawdle. Once we've searched the cave thoroughly, we shall depart immediately."
"Yes, sir!"
Calamity arrives suddenly one day, stripping everything away.