Dragon Life - Chapter 72

Chapter 72

Side Story II   Side   Lutoria

“Be happy with Roza-san”

She left those words, before she vanished .

I just stared blankly, at the sky where she had flown . As if concealed by and assimilating into the sky, in a momentary flash, she disappeared without a trace .

Lord Cleric turned his eyes down, and put his hands together to pray .

Timothea Norris looked at the sky while close to tears .

Rosa gasped and widened her eyes, as her breaths became short and shallow .

For me just, just— my chest was in pain .

Saying she wanted to protect everyone, that life was sacrificed to save the world from the Black Dominator .

A heroic tale .

She accomplished something worth being passed down to future generations . It’s respected . It’s prestigious . It’s an honour .

In reality, the Alvina Kingdom grandly called her divine, and celebrated her as the Sacred Beast .

What is salvation .

What is peace .

Only one, to be unable to protect your one precious person, what is a knight . Who cares about being a contractor .  

I couldn’t do, anything .

I couldn’t even support her .

I could not even stop her, who left with a smile .

This world, should just go and die .

A world without her, is not one I need .

I don’t need it . I don’t need it . I don’t need it . I don’t need it .

―― Right, I don’t need it .

“Lutoria . What are you thinking about”

From behind me, I heard Lord Cleric’s voice and turned around . I didn’t sense his presence . The eyes that could see through anything focused on me, while standing in the corner of the castle’s corridor .

“…Well, it’s fine . I have something I want to show you . Can I have some of your time?”

After I silently nod, Lord Cleric took a step out and invited me to follow . He headed to somewhere people are not usually allowed in, where the Alvina Kingdom stores their historical books, records and items . I’ve not come here since I was a child, when I was exploring the castle with Leblance .

When you open the door, a room big enough to reach the ceiling appears in front of you and opens your eyes .

“This, is”

I gasped .

Supple limbs were covered with lustrous black scales, and large wings, reminiscent of bats, were folded on its back . Its eyes shone as red as blood, while sharp, white fangs could be seen from its mouth .

The Black Dragon . The Sacred Earth Dragon . It’s the exact appearance of her last moments .

I fall in love with the beauty of it .

But, it’s different . What is, different?… That’s it . This is, not alive . I can’t feel anything . I can’t feel her . It’s empty, this may just as well be an elaborate, well-crafted sculpture .

“Timothea Norris collected the fragments which were scattered from the shock, and restored it . Did you notice it? — That her soul was human”

A human, soul .

“Originally, the young body of this Earth Dragon was sleeping on Mount Vizannu in an empty, soulless state . Her soul, which was accepted by this Earth Dragon, flew out when this body collapsed, and went away somewhere . Or maybe, it was the soul of someone who has already passed away, and her soul returned to her world’s cycle of reincarnation . Either way, it’s unlikely we’ll ever meet her again . Returning to the cycle of reincarnation, will purge one of their memories, you see”

“…What, are you trying to say”

Lord Cleric touched what used to be her body, closing his eyes . Taking a short deep breath, he turned and directly faced me .

“She, is no longer here”

No longer here . He repeated it twice .

Something like that, I know without you telling me . Over and over again I remember her last moments and become overwhelmed with regret, while wondering why the one who had to disappear was her and not me would torment me, tightening my chest till it hurt .

Biting my lip, the taste of blood spread in my mouth .

Lord Cleric stepped closer to me slowly, and put his white hand on my cheek . It was a small child’s hand, smaller than her’s .

“So you should look and walk forward too . Love this world that she gave her life to save . That, will be your love for her . ”

Love is meaningless, if you don’t give it to the person themselves .

I was just being protected by her . To protect, while being protected . That is what contractors should be .

When her body was dyed black, I vowed to protect her from anything and everything .

My left arm, doesn’t move anymore .

Like this empty Black Earth Dragon, it just exists .

Because she, is not here anymore .

She’s not here anymore .

Not here .

Not here .

If I can’t change reality no matter how hard I strive, if I’m despairing no matter how hard I struggle, then .  

―― I don’t need a world without her .