“….I don’t want to fight….!!”
“Stop whining.”
I lifted my sword with one hand.
Tremble, I felt my body shaking helplessly, balanced on one leg.
Just standing here was already my limit. I couldn’t evade or move from this spot.
I looked pathetic, but Anna’s gaze at me was more serious than ever.
Truly, the look of someone facing an enemy.
“I’m coming.”
“….!!!”
How long had we been sizing each other up?
Anna uttered something with a simple fighting spirit. An attack timed just as my eyes were closing. In the brief moment I blinked, she was already right in front of me.
Swish, Anna lunged her sword at me.
The point was aimed straight at my heart.
—Clang!
“Hiiiiyahhhh—?!”
With a loud sound, our swords collided, and her attack veered off course.
I aimed my sword not at Anna but at the trajectory of her strike, barely managing to deflect it.
But perhaps due to the quick movement’s recoil, I felt a jolt run through my left arm, turning it into a mass of meat.
That tingling sensation spread throughout my body.
It caused a brief stutter.
“…..!”
Anna saw my opening and spun around, kicking my body without hesitation. I barely managed to block it with the edge of my sword.
No mercy, huh…
“What’s wrong!? Where’s that brilliant genius sister of yours?!”
“….Gah….ugh…”
I stumbled backward and fell again, but made a wobbly stand using my sword as a cane. I had to get up quickly.
Anna was swinging her sword towards me.
It was fierce.
—Cling, cling!
The relentless series of attacks kept coming. From above, from the sides, occasionally from both. Anna’s powerful strikes came down hard.
With my speed gone and no strength to wield with both hands, all I could do was defend.
We exchanged blows several times.
Anna pressed on with relentless attacks, disregarding defense.
I, on the other hand, focused entirely on defense, barely evading or blocking her strikes, never once launching an attack of my own.
Well, I never intended to hurt her in this fight anyway.
“You……!!!”
“Ah… huff… haah…”
Had she noticed my intentions? Anna’s expression turned icy as she stared at me.
Creak, she thought herself ignored, and the sound came from her grip on the hilt of her sword.
That’s not it.
This is all out of respect for you.
“Aris…..Aris…..!! You always treat me like that—!!”
“Hehe… finally, huff, you called my name…?”
“….!!”
Even now, the younger sister who cherishes and loves her older sister does not wish to point her sword at her.
And I too had no intention of harming even a single hair on her.
Victory, conflict, war.
All of it presupposes that the participants are on the same playing field.
One side wins, and the other loses.
If one side achieves victory, the other side faces defeat.
Often referred to as life being a zero-sum game.
Gains can only be obtained from the other participants.
But this isn’t like that.
“—Uggggggh!!!”
“…Hehe…”
Anna screamed and charged at me.
Clang, sparks flew between us. As our swords clashed, Anna began to press me down.
One hand against two. Naturally, with my weak knees, I was slowly bowing down.
Finally, with me on my knees, Anna glared fiercely at me.
What we were doing was of a different caliber from a desperate and blood-soaked struggle.
Her victory condition was to kill me.
My victory condition was to smash the cursed earring in her ear and momentarily restore her mind.
Of course, even if I didn’t take it off, the kings who read the notes I left in the book would remove it themselves, but hey, let’s call it a service.
It was only fair to face the darkness dwelling within her.
At the end of this endless dual, we would depart wielding what we both desired.
Thus, this is not a fight but a play put on by us both.
A tragedy that ends with a happy ending.
“….Hehe.”
I’ve always been like this.
Lived this way, and will die this way.
This was my way of life.
—And I have never lost until now.
Click, I slid my sword into the small notch on Anna’s blade.
Having aimed for the same spot repeatedly to parry, block, and deflect caused a slit to open.
I didn’t miss it.
“…!!?”
“Anna Unnie—”
I twisted my sword.
Crack, like breaking off a sheet of ice, cracks spider-webbed across her sword.
The cracks spread, and with a bright sound, Anna’s sword shattered in two.
Torn in half, die!
—Bang!
“…..You…”“—Please!!”
I left behind my valuable sword and leaped straight into her embrace. My arrow-pierced, trampled leg protested one last time.
Run to that place.
Holding the broken sword, I made my way silently to where Anna, with her head down, awaited.
Step by step, I drew closer to her. When I reached out, I finally made contact, using my last bit of strength to embrace her.
Flop.
And at that instant, our victory was confirmed.
Flump.
Anna’s soft embrace was as warm as always. I wanted to hold her longer, but I reached for her earring.
Once that is removed, she’ll return to normal. Strong Anna will surely regain her senses soon.
I worried about what would happen after I’m gone, but looking at my capable sister made that worry seem unnecessary. No more words felt like nagging.
All sins would end up being blamed on our poor duke. It’s just what he deserves.
Flump.
I felt the cold touch of the pearl. At the same time, I could see the dark aura swirling from it wrapping around my arm. Trying to consume me? No way, buddy.
Creating anxiety, amplifying emotions, just some light hallucinations or auditory phantoms? Looks like it’s trying some shaky bridge tricks. It’d be better to go on a date to watch a horror film instead.
This isn’t child’s play; I won’t be swayed by some trivial curse.
Flump.
Rustle rustle, I saw someone cutting through the forest in the distance.
Ah, is that Remi?
Covered in mud, they looked confused for a moment. From the looks of it, they must have run in a hurry. But wow, great job finding me.
It must have been difficult to get here.
Flump.
Now, let’s see if I can take it off.
Not much time left. I might lose the strength to pull off that earring.
Honestly, I thought about yanking it hard, but I can’t mar my sister’s bright future, so I decided to simply pluck it off.
Because she’s precious to me.
Alright then.
On three, we’ll take it off.
So… three!
“………Huh..?”
Is it a foul to call three too soon? Ha, I never said that. It’s okay for a little kid like me to insist on that when adults do it.
Haha, but I’ve never seen such a silly face before! Anna, you can make that kind of face too?
Surprised, huh?
Dummy.
“Ah….aah…..aaah..!!!!”
“…….”
…..Alright, everyone, congratulations.
Remi arrived just in time. Honestly, I was skeptical about whether they could make it, but Remi is amazing.
From now on, instead of being lazy, you should train a bit. If they had used what they learned effectively, wouldn’t I have had a better time before I kicked the bucket?
Playing is fine, but study a little.
Well, if Remi were that kind of sister, I might have devised a different plan.
Anna Unnie, congratulations. In the end, you won. You took my life.
You can boast. You surpassed my expectations, didn’t you?
I want to commend that courage, facing the inferiority complex sleeping within you, even if the outcome didn’t change.
If she keeps this up… she could very well become a great queen, even better than I imagined. No, she will.
I began to step back.
Honestly, I had a lot to say to them, but it seems unnecessary. I can’t even do that.
Cough, blood poured from my mouth. About a cup’s worth. I involuntarily bowed my head. Thanks to that, I could glimpse my condition.
My front was stained entirely red, looking like a mess from the stabbing.
Had it been four or five times? As the final touch, half of a broken sword lodged in my belly.
Right now, I was somewhat conscious, but surely, I would die.
This was a wound no medical skills could ever treat.
In modern times, there are cases of someone jumping on a grenade for their comrades and surviving, but that was solely due to the existence of insane modern medical technology.
Even if the kingdom’s best doctors rushed here, all they could do was alleviate my pain.
In the distance, I saw Remi running toward me, screaming. They were doing their best to get to me faster. Sorry, can’t hear you.
Anna just stared at me, her expression blank. Her wide eyes showed the shock of a lifetime.
Truly, I was loved.
I wanted to express my gratitude. That I was so happy because of it. That each day had been a continuous joy.
There were words I wanted to tell Anna too. The condition I mentioned, ‘kindness’, it’s something only she possesses.
I forgot to tell Remi the hiding place of the snacks too. Well, they seem smart enough to find and eat them by themselves, but who knows?
But words failed to come out. I couldn’t even part my lips.
“……”
I could only smile.
Brightly.
Extending my hand. The sound of a scream echoing. Remi’s face, rushing toward me, faded away again.
I heard the howling wind and the fierce rush of water.
Ah, am I falling?
Well, it’s a fitting conclusion for me.
Splash.
With a strong impact, I lost consciousness.
Episode 1. The Girl of Death.
The End.
Memory Loss (Self-Proclaimed) Tree.
Starting Now.
