The Fall
"...I, I don't want to fight...!!"
"Don't whine."
I raised my sword with one hand. I could feel my body, propped up on a single leg, trembling uncontrollably. Just standing was already the limit for this body. Dodging or maneuvering from here was out of the question.
Pathetic as I looked, Anna's gaze on me was more serious than ever. The eyes of someone facing a true enemy.
"—Here I come."
"...!!!"
How long had we stared each other down, probing? A simple shout laced with spirit escaped Anna's lips. An attack timed perfectly to the moment my eyes blinked shut.
In that split second between closing and opening, she was already in front of me. Shuuuk—Anna thrust her sword at me. The tip aimed straight for my heart.
Claaang!
"Hiyaaah—aaack!!?"
The swords clashed with a deafening ring, and her blade veered off course. I hadn't aimed for Anna herself but for the path of her incoming strike, swinging to deflect it—just barely succeeding. But the recoil from moving so quickly sent a jolt like electricity surging from my left arm, now a useless slab of meat. A prickling numbness spread through my entire body.
That brief hesitation it caused.
"...!"
Anna seized the opening without mercy, spinning her body to kick me with her foot. I barely managed to block using the flat of my blade as a shield.
No mercy at all...
"What's wrong!? Where's that genius little sister of yours!?"
"...Kuhaha... aaah..."
I tumbled backward and collapsed again, but using my sword as a crutch, I staggered to my feet. I had to get up fast—Anna was already swinging at me.
Fierce.
Chaeng, chaeng!
Relentless strikes came one after another, without pity. From above, from the side, sometimes both. Anna's blade came crashing down with tremendous force. I couldn't move quickly or grip with both hands, so all I could do was deflect.
Several exchanges passed. Anna attacked without regard for defense. I focused solely on defense, ignoring any thought of countering. All I'd done so far was barely dodge or parry—not once had I struck first.
Well, I'd never intended to hurt her in this fight anyway.
"You...!!!"
"Ah... haa... haaa... haa..."
Whether she realized it or not, Anna's eyes grew chillingly cold as they fixed on me. Kkuuduk—a sinister creak came from the hilt where she gripped her sword tighter, as if feeling insulted.
That's not it. This is all out of respect for you.
"Aris... Aris...!! You always treat me like—!!"
"Heehee... finally... haa... calling me by name...?"
"...!!"
Even in this situation, the little sister who loved and cherished her big sister so much couldn't bring herself to point her sword. And I had no intention of harming a single hair on her head.
Victory, battle, war—they all presuppose both parties are playing the same game. One wins, the other loses. One triumphs, the other falls. Life as a zero-sum game, they say—gains come only at others' expense.
This isn't that.
"—Uwaaaaaah!!!"
"...Heehee..."
Anna screamed as she charged. Chaeng—sparks flew between us. Our swords locked, and she began pressing down on me. One hand against two. Naturally, my knees buckled under the force.
Finally kneeling, I met Anna's fierce glare.
What we were doing wasn't that brutal, blood-soaked struggle. Her victory condition: kill me. Mine: shatter the shamanic earring in her ear to temporarily restore her mind.
Of course, even without me, the king would notice the earring from the memo I'd tucked in the book and remove it. But call this a bonus service.
A courtesy to the sister who'd confronted the darkness within her to the very end.
At the close of this endless clash of blades, we'd each grasp what we desired and part ways.
Thus, this wasn't a fight—it was a play we two performed. A tragedy with a happy ending.
"...Heehee."
I'd always lived that way. Died that way. That was my way of life.
—And I'd never lost. Not once.
Kakang—I wedged my blade into a small notch on Anna's sword. Born from repeatedly targeting and deflecting that same spot.
I didn't miss it.
"...!!?"
"Anna unni—"
I twisted. Craaaack—like fracturing ice, cracks raced across her sword. They spread, and with a crisp snap, it shattered in half.
Split in two and die!
Kang!
"...You..."
"—Please!!"
I dropped my trusty sword to the ground and threw myself into her arms. My arrow-pierced, trampled leg protested one final time. Run there. To her.
Clutching her broken sword, Anna stood with her head bowed in silence. Step by step, I drew closer.
Finally, within arm's reach, I mustered my last strength and embraced her.
Puk.
And in that moment, our victories were sealed.
Puuk.
Anna unni's soft embrace was as warm as ever. I wanted to hold on forever, but I reached for her earring. Remove this, and she'd return to normal. My strong big sister would snap out of it soon enough.
I'd worried about what came after my death, but seeing how splendidly she'd grown, it felt like needless concern.
No more words— that'd just be nagging. All the sins would fall on our pitiful duke instead. Self-inflicted, really.
Puuk.
The cold pearl's touch. Black energy coiled around my arm from it.
Try to devour me? Dream on, you punk.
Anxiety induction, emotion amplification, mild hallucinations or auditory tricks? Aiming for the suspension bridge effect, huh.
Instead of this useless crap, why not go on a horror movie date? Child's play. No way I'd be swayed by parlor-trick shamanism like this.
Puuk.
Rustle rustle—far off, someone emerged from the forest. Ah, Remi. Covered head to toe in grass and leaves; I almost didn't recognize her. She must've rushed here in a panic.
Impressive she found us. Must've been tough.
Puuk.
Alright, time to pull it off. Not much time left—might not have the strength soon.
I considered yanking it, but couldn't scar Anna's promising face. Gently it is. She's precious.
Okay then. On three. One, two... three!
".........Ah..?"
Cheating by counting three right away? Baaah, never said that rule. Adults look childish doing it, but a kid like me gets a pass.
Haha, never seen that dumbstruck face before! Anna unni, you can make expressions like that too? That surprised, huh? Silly.
"Ah.... aaah..... aaah..!!!!"
"......."
.....Congratulations, everyone. Remi made it just in time. I half-doubted she'd sync perfectly, but as expected, she's amazing. Stop slacking off and train a bit from now on.
If you'd used what I taught you fully, you might've arrived before I died. Playtime's fine, but study too. Well, if you were that kind of sister, I'd have planned differently.
Anna unni, congratulations too. You won in the end. You took my life. Brag all you want—you exceeded my expectations. Facing that inferiority complex head-on... incredible courage.
The outcome's unchanged, but that bravery deserves praise. With it, you might become an even greater queen than I imagined.
No—you will.
I backed away slowly. So much I wanted to say, but no need now. Couldn't anyway.
Cough—blood poured from my mouth. About a paper cup's worth. My head drooped naturally, letting me check my body's state without effort. A mess—my front was soaked red. Stabbed four, maybe five times? For the finishing touch, half the broken sword was embedded in my gut.
Conscious for now, but surely dying. No current medicine could save this. Sure, modern tales of guys surviving grenades thrown over comrades exist, but that's thanks to insane tech. Even if the kingdom's top physicians rushed here, they'd only ease my pain.
Far away, Remi screamed as she sprinted toward me, straining every muscle to reach faster. Sorry, can't hear you.
Anna just stared blankly, eyes wide in shock.
I really was loved.
Wanted to say thanks. That I was so happy. Every day a joy.
To Anna: That "kindness" I mentioned? It's yours alone.
To Remi: Forgot to tell her the secret snack stash. She'd probably find it anyway, but still.
But no words came. Mouth wouldn't move.
"......"
All I could do was smile. Brightly.
Reaching hands. Echoing screams. Remi's face, rushing toward me, receded again.
Whipping wind and roaring rapids filled my ears.
Ah, I'm falling.
Fitting end for me.
Plung.
A powerful impact, and I lost consciousness.
Episode 1. Girl of Death. End. Amnesia (Self-Proclaimed) Tree. Begins.