The Blade of Resolve
I swung my sword. I swung it while remembering the words that told me it would be very difficult later, that I shouldn't give my heart too freely to Scarlet. I swung it again, remembering the warning that she wouldn't live long, that graduation from the academy would be her limit. I was sad, I was angry, and I was resentful. How could the world be so cruel? Why did she have to be the one to suffer such a fate?
I bit my lip and swung the blade once more. But with a sharp, metallic screech, my sword was blocked, knocked from my hand, and driven deep into the ground. I retrieved the stuck blade and summoned another to continue the assault, but I froze the moment a voice cut through the air.
"...You are swinging your emotions, not your sword. It would be best to stop training for today."
At the observation from Lucy, who had been parrying my strikes until just moments ago, I let out a ragged breath and slumped to the ground. Even if I became stronger, could I really change her destiny? For the first time in my life, I felt utterly powerless. Usually, showing such weakness would invite a sharp rebuke from Lucy, asking if I even had the intention to grow stronger. I waited for her to walk over and say something, but contrary to my expectations, she gently embraced me as I sat there, and I squeezed my eyes shut.
Perhaps it was because she had directly absorbed the sorrow, the rage, and the resentment toward the world that I had poured into my blade. Her uncharacteristic warmth made my chest ache. "You are my contractor, but you are also family." In that embrace, for just a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to be honest.
The next day, while wandering outside with a heavy heart, my eyes landed on Scarlet sitting on a park bench. My footsteps halted involuntarily. I had no idea how I was supposed to treat her. But because I had promised to remain close to her, I approached with the most nonchalant expression I could muster.
"...What are you doing?" I tried to act as I always had, but I couldn't stop my voice from trembling slightly. If someone could act normally after hearing such news, they would either be a brilliant actor or someone who was broken inside.
Scarlet, who had been looking down, lifted her head and our eyes met. When she replied that she had a bit of a dilemma, I swallowed hard. She, who was almost always expressionless, was smiling naturally. Had something changed in her heart? As I wondered this, her voice reached me.
"Hey, you said before that you'd help me if I had any worries, right? Is that still valid?"
I remembered saying that. And honestly, even if I hadn't, I knew I would have had no choice but to listen to whatever she asked of me. I nodded. "That's a relief. Then let's go somewhere where there are no ears around. It's a bit of a sensitive topic to discuss out in the open. I wonder where we could go so others can't eavesdrop."
After saying that, Scarlet stood up and told me to follow. She stopped at a clothing store on the street and bought some clothes. She picked one out from the display and asked if I thought it suited her, and I nodded blankly. I probably would have nodded no matter what she chose. Scarlet nodded back at my answer and went to pay, leaving me in a state of confusion. Why did she ask me if it suited her? I started imagining all sorts of things, and the shop clerk smiled and said, "Your girlfriend is very pretty."
At the word "girlfriend," my face flushed and I shook my head violently. If that’s how we looked to others, could this perhaps be something like a date? I was lost in that thought when the clerk's next words—"Then how about me as your girlfriend?"—didn't even register. Watching Scarlet walk out after her purchase, I thought: I didn't know what her dilemma was, but if it could be solved in this way, I would gladly do my best. And that thought flew away in a massive shock the moment I saw our next destination.
My heart was pounding like crazy. I had been waiting outside the door as she asked, and the sound of a shower from inside the room kept me on edge. She said she had a problem, so I followed her, but why was I waiting for Scarlet to finish washing in a motel? My mind felt like it was overloading. Lucy whispered for me to calm down, but there was no man on earth who could stay calm in this situation. When the sound of the shower stopped, my heart hammered painfully against my ribs. We’re students, is this okay? I kept oscillating between that thought and the question of whether it was okay to follow my desires.
"You can come in now."
That thought stopped the moment I saw her. Her hair was damp from the shower, and she was wearing the clothes I had said suited her. When I entered the room, she sat on the edge of the bed and patted the spot next to her, and I felt like my heart was going to burst.
"Don't mind me. I'll blur your senses for a while, so don't worry and enjoy yourself."
Lucy’s voice brought me back to my senses, and I shook my head and sat down on the floor instead. Scarlet spoke. "'I will never let that happen.' Was that it?" She was reciting the words I had said. Wasn't she unconscious back then? Did she hear everything? Shame, mixed with the thought that perhaps she was acting this way because of that, churned in my head. I lowered my head, and I heard her laugh. I was trembling, not knowing what was what, when I realized she had climbed off the bed. The sensation of her hand in mine stopped my trembling.
"Thank you, for saying that."
I realized it wasn't the situation I had imagined. Yet, it was still a deeply joyful thing to hear. I didn't need the Holy Sword to know that she was genuinely grateful to me. When I looked up and met her eyes, she smiled faintly and continued.
"You knew everything, yet you still took my side. That made me quite happy. Being involved with a witch is never a good thing. People will only think of me as a bad, scary existence. And in reality, that's somewhat true."
Her words about not minding her. Because she was involved with a witch and couldn't let her identity be discovered, she must have had to avoid people all this time. Fortunately, Sylvia and I had accepted her despite knowing her past, but others wouldn't think the same. I felt like I finally understood the reasons for her behavior in pushing me away.
"Sometimes I hear the witch's voice. Telling me to burn everything. There are times I see hallucinations of my whole body burning. I try my best not to give in, but honestly, I'm scared. What if I can't hold on? What if I hurt people because of me?"
She must have been fighting this difficult battle all alone, unable to tell anyone. "I want to protect people. That is the way of life I, Scarlet Evande, want. Three years from now. At the very least, that is how I want to spend it." Even so, she was genuinely saying she wanted to protect people, despite knowing she wouldn't be recognized for it.
"So, I have a favor to ask. If, if I am no longer Scarlet Evande..." She smiled as if she had already resolved herself. "Then, please kill me."
That smile resembled a brilliant flame. I sighed. Her dilemma, her request. Before, I thought I would be happy if I could solve such things, but reality didn't seem to be that way. However, there was no hesitation. If that was what she truly wanted, there was only one answer I could give. I nodded. "I will."
I would kill the girl I had sworn to protect. And I said to Scarlet, who nodded as if satisfied with that answer, "Can you do me a favor in return?" Just like the contract with Lucy, wasn't it only fair that if I granted her request, she should grant mine? I asked Scarlet, who tilted her head, "If, in these three years, that doesn't happen..." It wasn't a request; it was a wish. "I want you to be happy."
Scarlet looked blank for a moment, then burst into laughter. "What kind of request is that, you idiot?" She smiled faintly, looking shy. "Still, I'll try."
At her answer, I could smile too. Yeah, I'll try too. I vowed to myself.
In storybooks, the good are rewarded and the wicked are punished. But the world had bestowed the cruelest fate upon the one who was the most good. It had heaped misfortune upon one who deserved nothing but happiness. That made me sad, angry, and resentful. So, I swung my sword.
But the result was different from yesterday. For a brief moment, my sword pushed back Lucy’s. In the eyes of Lucy, who had been watching me with concern, a flash of delight appeared.
"Amazing. To grow like this in just one day... Yes, a swordsman should not swing their emotions. You have finally earned the qualifications to be the true master of the Holy Swords."
I thought as I swung my blade. If the world makes her unhappy, I will not let it. If destiny treats her cruelly, I will cut that destiny down. It was a vow, a resolution, and a conviction. And that of a swordsman inevitably resembles the sword. For the heart is the sword, and what is contained within the sword is the heart. What I desperately wished for was someone's happiness.
"I will make it so."
As the sword swung, the Holy Swords shone, blessing the one who was no longer a boy, but a swordsman.