Ha, ha....!


    The pain in my stomach is unbearable and I wince at the sight of it.


    He looked up a little and looked at his sword.


    The blood was sticky on it.


    He had killed demons even before he killed this man, so he had a little bit of blood on him.


    However, the man''s blood is distinguishable from the demon''s blood that was on it earlier.


    It''s a little brighter in color than the demon''s blood.


    It''s human blood.


    Until now, I''ve seen blood shed by others in training and other activities, and blood shed by myself.


    I look at the man lying on his side.


    His pupils are dilated and his eyes do not catch the light.


    He is dead, with the characteristic red eyes of the demon race.


    A terrifying amount of blood is flowing from the man''s body as well.


    The blood has reached my feet.


    Seeing the blood on the sword and the blood flowing at my feet, I feel the realization that I have killed this man.


    My hands begin to tremble.


    I had never killed a man before, and I wasn''t even prepared to kill him, but I did.


    ''''Sister...?''''


    That''s when I feel the warm palm of a hand on my back again as I''m approached from behind.


    I turn around to see the girl staring at me with a worried look on her face.


    ''Are you okay?''　Does your tummy hurt?


    He said that as he looked into my face.


    He must have thought my stomach was hurting when he saw me cowering.


    In fact, he was right, but the pain had receded from earlier and now I was just about to be stunned by something else.


    ''Where does it hurt?''　I''ll make the pain fly away for you, okay?


    This girl, who is almost as tall as me on her knees, puts her hand on my belly.


    A very gentle, warm hand strokes my still slightly sore stomach.


    ''It hurts, it hurts, fly away!''


    In a small voice, he said it adorably, taking his hand off my stomach and sending the pain flying towards the sky.


    ''Well?''　Does it hurt?


    Then he smiled a cute smile.


    I wonder how far this child understands.


    The mother was crushed by the house that came crashing down.


    The senior soldier who had been protecting this child afterwards was also dead, probably pierced by flying debris from the impact of the explosion.


    It may be a situation that a girl of about five years old cannot possibly understand.


    But this smile directed at me - even in this situation, no, because of the devastation, it is very beautiful and precious.


    I protected this child, this smile, I protected it.


    I gently hold this child''s hand that is pointed at the sky.


    When the man of the demon tribe almost pushed my sword out of my hand, I was saved by this hand.


    I had to protect him, I thought.


    I have killed a man.


    It is a fact that cannot be reversed, a heavy thing that cannot be escaped.


    But you did it to keep him smiling.


    When I think about it, I have absolutely no regrets about killing the man.


    If I didn''t kill him, I couldn''t protect him.


    "Will I ever be able to really wield a sword...?


    ''''If there''s something you really want to protect, you can do it.''''


    I remember talking to Eric.


    Seriously, if you have something you want to protect, you can seriously wield a sword.


    That was Eric''s answer.


    I didn''t know it at the time.


    I was even more afraid that one day I would have to kill someone, if I really could.


    But now I know.


    Eric had told me he''d killed people before, too.


    I guess he had something he really wanted to protect and he killed to protect it.


    I''m ready for that now, too.


    Now I have to go into battle again.


    And when I do, I know I''ll have to kill again.


    To protect this child.


    For the other people who live in this country.


    I''ll have to kill those demons that come to attack me.


    That''s what she taught me.


    "Lisa what''s the matter with you?


    The girl asked me that, wondering why I hadn''t moved while holding her hand.


    ''No, it''s nothing. Thank you.''


    ''Yeah, I''m glad it''s pain-free!


    Did you think I was thanking you because the pain flew away?


    Not quite, but oh well.


    ''It''s not safe here, let''s go somewhere safe.


    There are no demons or opposing soldiers here right now, but we don''t know when they will come.


    There should be another shelter a little further away where the residents are gathered.


    I have to take her there, hoping that place hasn''t been attacked already.


    ''Sis, can you stay with me?''


    He looks up at me and says so, but I shake my head.


    ''I''m sorry, but I''ll be off to work soon.''


    ''Yeah, well...''


    I''m sorry.


    The girl turns her face down sadly.


    But she quickly looks up.


    ''I''ll see you again, won''t I?''


    ''　Yeah, we''ll see each other. I promise.


    Do you promise?


    A childlike, little pinky finger is pointed at me.


    My cheeks loosen up at the adorable suggestion, which makes me forget for a moment about this devastation.


    I take out my little finger and twirl it around the girl''s finger.


    ''Finger cutting pardon. If you lie, I''ll have to cut off a thousand needles. I cut off my finger.


    The girl sang as she twirled her entwined fingers and shook them.


    ''I promise,''


    Yeah, I promise.


    Now you have a reason not to die.


    I have to fight to keep the girl from breaking her promise.


    I get up and try to go and take the girl in my arms.


    ''Alright, let''s go - eh.''


    -- a sharp pain shot through my side.


    When I looked down, I saw a blade protruding from my right side.


    a€?--!


    I tried to turn around, but I couldn''t.


    I immediately lost my strength and fell forward.


    I couldn''t move my limbs, as if they didn''t belong to me.


    I fall to the ground and then quickly lose consciousness.


    Not good, not good...!


    I''m going to pass out.


    I had to stay awake.


    I tried not to close my heavy eyelids, but I couldn''t.


    ''I saw the fight just now. It''s not a good idea to have someone as strong as you, because the demon side is at a disadvantage. I''ll let you get out of here. Don''t feel bad about it.


    I heard such a voice before I lost consciousness.


    I heard it, and then it went away.