Ryuu Kusari no Ori

Volume 4 Chapter 2.1

Patchwork Obsession Part 1

Translator : PolterGlast

I loved my dad.

He knew everything I didn't know and was always there to protect me. Someone I truly admire.

I felt at ease under his big hands that stroked me, and I was happy to have been born with hair the same color as his.

My first memories as a child are the sensation of my body being rocked by the carriage, the clear wind, and the endless plains of withered grass. I remember my eyes often glancing up at the dust and sand smoke that rose up in the air.

Spending my days traveling with my parents, who were both adventurers. That was my life when I was a child.

My parents were always on good terms with each other and never had a single quarrel.

They were both well-educated and skilled in the martial arts, and they fought off many powerful demonic beasts with their well-matched combination of skills.

My parents were always requested by various people by name, and at the same time, they were highly appreciated.

I was proud of them, and I did not doubt that one day I would learn from them and become a first-rate adventurer. But those days didn't last forever.

My father ...... passed away.

How did he die, what was the cause? I still don't know.

But I do remember that shortly before he died, my mother argued with him.

No, it was more like a one-sided confrontation.

We were on our way from town to town when the trees and grass had fallen asleep. As I drifted off to sleep in our camp tent, I was awakened by my mother's strong tone of voice.

"What the heck are you thinking!?"

I peeked out through a gap in the tent and saw my mother there, who was unusually loud and impatient.

Dad answered all of Mom's questions, then apologetically hugged her and whispered something in her ear.

Just what did he say, I wonder? My mother's eyes widened and she burst into tears.

Then she bit her lip sadly and hung her head, not pressing my father any further.

Mom, who was always smiling and cheerful and never showed any signs of weakness, cried. I felt a tightening sensation in my chest upon seeing it, and I involuntarily walked out of the tent.

"Lisa ....... Were you awake?"

Their eyes widened when they noticed me coming out.

"Hey, I got an urgent job to do. Dad has to go."

"E...... a, uh......."

Wait, what happened? Why is Mom crying?

My head was quickly filled with one question after another, my bad premonition grew even worse, and my heart was beating fast with shivers as if my whole body was frozen. My mouth kept flailing in impatience to say something, and as if I had forgotten what to say, I only uttered meaningless noises.

"Don't worry, I'll be right back."

After gently patting me, who was anxious and dismayed, Dad went away.

A month later, he came back stone cold.

How? Why? My young mind was crushed by a reality I did not want to believe. And even though I tried to find out the cause, I was never able to figure it out.

And my uncontrollable anger and anxiety were directed toward my mother, who let my father go alone.

Why didn't Mom go with Dad like she usually did?

But that anger eventually subsided. A new life was being born in Mom's belly.

A few months later, Mom gave birth to my sister and we returned to her homeland.

The Principality of Handora. A neighbor of the great Kingdom of Forsina and a member of the Union of Small Nations.

We moved to Oire village in this country.

I didn't know the cause of my father's death. Mom won't say anything either. All that remained was my longing for my father. My dream of becoming an adventurer. And then I met him, who supported my dream.

Nozomu Bountis. My first friend in Oire village. He was the only son of a farmer in this village, perhaps because of his curiosity, and he seemed to enjoy listening to my stories about my travels.

Since then, we spent several years in this village.

Oire village is a small village in the mountains, where all the villagers usually work together to do the farm work. So, we became friends very quickly.

But since when did I become conscious of him?

"......!?"

A bolt of lightning flashed across my vision, and at the same time, I saw a scene I had never imagined before.

In a forest shrouded in twilight. Most likely Spasim Forest.

As I hide in the thick vegetation, I stifle my breath and stare at the scene in front of me.

Two childhood friends. One is someone I once loved.

Nozomu Bountis. The bastard who betrayed me and then threw my feelings for him away.

The other is Ken Notice. The one who supported me when I was in the depths of depression.

These two were facing each other and having a talk in such a deserted place. What was the reason ...... I wonder?

"Just what are they doing ......?"

Feeling anxious, I leaned forward to eavesdrop on their conversation.

*Shock*. Then, with another bolt of lightning, the scene in front of me changed.

A terrifying monster attacked. A pitch-black monster with red eyes. It raised its sword in a slow arc and swung it down at my loved one.

"............!"

With a cry, I intercepted the sword flash and caught it with the saber I had drawn.

For some reason, the loud voice that should have come out of my own mouth did not reach my ears.

The monster's gaze turned to me as I interrupted it. Its red eyes, stained with hatred, were filled with disappointment and disdain.

[......!]

The monster's voice sounded muffled, and I could not understand what it was saying. No, all the sounds around me were distant, and all I could hear was the ringing in my ears.

But I know what its gaze was saying.

Why are you protecting the one who betrayed you? He said.

What is this monster saying?

You are the one who betrayed me......

(Huh? Why am I saying that this monster betrayed me......)

An enemy that attacked us. A monster that can do nothing but kill people. Why would I feel inexplicable feelings of "betrayal" toward such an existence?

Doubts suddenly popped up in my mind. As if perceiving this, the monster quickly brought its face close to mine.

The monster's face in front of me changed into the shape of Nozomu.

[You actually knew everything, didn't you? When I gave you that letter?]

Hearing these words, my eyebrows twitched. My heart jumped and I gulped.

In the back of my mind, I remember the scene of Nozomu who came to give me the letter in the joint class before the Special Comprehensive Training.

I'm sure that Nozomu at that time had the same straightforward eyes as the man I've known for a long time......

(~, What nonsense are you spouting!? You monster!)

I put all my strength into my saber to cut down the traitorous monster.

I'm sure it was all a mistake. Because I saw him throwing away his promise!

[Was that really the case?]

The monster once again questions me. For some reason, his voice has changed to that of a woman.

[Sure, you saw him with another woman and immediately confronted him. But was that really him?]

Yes, of course it was! I saw something unbelievable! That was definitely Nozomu! And he denied the fact that I had seen him, out of his mouth!

I was so emotional that I spat out those words. As if mocking me, the monster shook his shoulders.

[Then why didn't you reciprocate Ken Notice's feelings?]

Because after being betrayed like that, I-.......

[Lie. Well, it's not really a lie, but you had other feelings.]

You couldn't possibly know that......

[Of course, I do. Because I am ...... you.]

The monster's appearance changed again. Red hair spread out from behind the black-tinted shadow, and a new appearance was revealed from within the shadow. The face was ...... exactly the same as mine.

[You were just scared. To be betrayed again. And to know the truth......]

A sense of disgust welled up in me. At the same time, I was struck by a feeling of realization.

I glared at the monster in front of me and put strength into my arms, trying to deny my own feelings.

However, against my will, the saber did not even budge, and the monster only smiled contemptuously at my resistance.

[I'll ask you again. Was it really him who betrayed you?]

Of course it was, didn't I already say so earlier!?

[You didn't doubt it even once? Did you really look straight into his eyes when you questioned him?]

Her words brought the scene of when I questioned Nozomu flooding back to my mind.

He muttered apologetically. He was the one who discarded the dream we had held in our hearts for so long. In the depths of his eyes, a dark light of amusement shone brightly......

(Huh......?)

I felt a strong sense of déjà vu, and something inside of me shook violently.

I've seen those eyes somewhere. Just recently, yes, in that forest .......

[Look behind you......]

Prompted by the whisper that slipped in, I was about to turn my gaze away from the monster.

I must not turn around...... Even though I thought so, my eyes were looking back before I knew it.

[Is that person really the one you're supposed to be protecting?]

There was a black monster wearing Ken's mask.

In front of my stunned eyes, the black monster jerked and attacked me.

Before I had time to let out a scream, I was swallowed from behind by the shadow monster.

A feeling of disgust and rejection, incomparably more intense than when I had just witnessed the monster's transformation, assaulted my entire body. At the same time, my entire body began to be invaded by the shadow.

(......~, ~!!)

I desperately tried to escape by moving my hands, but the shadow's invasion did not stop.

Perhaps amused even by my resistance, the shadow that had swallowed me trembled with ecstasy as it devoured my body, little by little.

Suddenly, something touches the side of my face. I looked to the side and saw Ken's mask, which had approached me as if to creep up on me. His face was distorted, as though he were a little child who had acquired his favorite toy.

[What a weak woman. Only focused on the flimsy facts you could see, and refused to see what was behind it, even though you were aware of it. Filthy coward. Such a woman-......]

I spat at such a sight of me. Then, I raised the saber in my hand and-.......

[-should have just died......]

I cut myself down along with the shadow of my crime.

†

"~, ha~!? Haa, haa, haa......"

Rising up as if bouncing.

It was still dark outside the window, and the sun was just beginning to shine on the roofs of the houses that lined the street. Lisa gasped for air and pressed her chest against the choking sensation.

At the same time, she felt an intense headache. The pain felt as if she had been hit over and over again with a hammer from behind her head, and she involuntarily slumped over on the bed. Her long hair hung down, and her eyelids were tightly closed.

A flash of light shone in the back of her eyes. As she remained slumped for a while, Camilla, who was sleeping on the bed next to her, woke up and called out to her.

"Lisa, what's wrong?"

"...... Camilla. No, it's nothing. I'm sorry I woke you."

Pushing back the pain running through her head, she looked up and smiled. Camilla and Lisa have been roommates since freshman year, and have become close friends through that relationship. And Camilla is one among those who has always supported her. So Lisa didn't want to make her worry.

"It's fine, it's time to get up anyway. Another nightmare?"

After a few seconds of silence, Lisa gave a small nod, defeated by Camilla's gaze directed at her.

"......Un."

She started having nightmares. They were supposed to be dreams that would eventually fade away, and yet they stuck to her mind and devoured her over and over again. Not only while she was sleeping, but also sometimes during small gaps in his daily life. Even last night, she woke up five times. Completely sleep-deprived. She probably looks terrible right now.

The dream depicted a scene of Nozomu, who had summoned her to the forest, arguing with Ken. Eventually, they began slashing at each other, and a light blue dwarfish creature appeared beside Ken, who was cornered, and restrained Nozomu.

As he fell to the ground, Ken looked down at him with the most twisted smile one could ever see. At that moment, an incredible amount of power overflowed from Nozomu's body.......

"......!"

Having thought that far, she shook her head to rid herself of her imagination.

Things never happened that way in the first place. Even though he summoned me with a letter, that man never showed up after all.

(But ....... Why do I remember my dreams so clearly after seeing them so many times......?)

Scenes seen in dreams are usually forgotten by the end of the day. Even if they are remembered, they soon become full of holes like insect bites, and within a few days, they are completely erased from memory, never to be seen again.

But her nightmares were bizarrely vivid and did not disappear no matter how much time passed.

On the contrary, they became more and more bloated and irritating.

"What shall we do, Lisa? Should we take the day off?"

Camilla, who had somehow gotten off the bed and come to her side, looked at her with a worried expression.

"I-I'm fine.

I'm just a little tired, that's all. Now, let's get ready and we'll go to the school."

Her words were surprisingly empty and helpless.

Ignoring the lingering fatigue, she went to the wardrobe and began to get dressed.

She wanted to escape Camilla's gaze on her back. She wanted to forget the nightmare she had just had.

But that wish was soon betrayed. Because [that guy] was waiting for her when she stepped out of the dormitory.

†

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