NOVEL NEXT chapter 11
11 – Ruins, Albeon (完)
Walking on solid ground.
[Detecting abnormal pilot status.]
[Injecting stabilizers.]
[Injecting hemostatic agents.]
[Injecting sedatives.]
I woke up with a stinging sensation.
Someone was crying next to me. Scarlet. Scarlet Peridot.
Did I lose consciousness again?
I opened my mouth. But my voice didn’t come out properly.
Why?
Why… exactly…?
“Blood… blood…”
I looked down at my abdomen. Blood was flowing out.
Ah.
Metal shards that were thrown when the aircraft I was riding on broke. Are some of them stuck in my body?
I couldn’t tell in the confusion. The terrible pain came after I noticed.
“……. “
Don’t pull it out. It will probably cause massive bleeding.
Leave it alone. Anyway…
I can still walk. I can still go.
Let’s go far.
As far as possible.
“Scarlet…”
“I, I’m here.”
“Because… I can’t see properly…”
Could it be because of the brain injury? Or because the linked Titan broke at once?
Judgment was not clear. My vision flickered.
So I asked her for help.
“Which way… should we go?”
“Ah, forward… straight ahead… I’ll guide you…”
She also seemed to be in a bad state. She kept stroking my head.
“Don’t lose consciousness… Drakhan… oh my God… the bleeding… the bleeding is too much… even if I administer a hemostatic agent…”
Bleeding.
Ah.
Bleeding. Yes. Bleeding.
Is it a wound so large that even the regenerative power of a dragon clan can’t keep up?
It felt like there were scratches on my memory. As if forgetting what I just said, I desperately tried to hold onto consciousness.
We ran. The Titan ran alongside me. We controlled our movements and awkwardly continued forward.
The armless Titan moved forward. It left the city ruins and plunged into the forest.
Scarlet Peridot unfolded the hologram map with trembling hands. We were moving slowly.
But…
There were more red dots chasing us from behind.
The distance was closing in. Now that we had no way to resist, what would happen if we were caught by Harvest’s soldiers?
I decided not to think about it. For now, I looked ahead.
I increased the speed.
The bleeding worsened.
Even if I tried to endure, blood flowed back through my mouth. It felt like not only my abdominal injuries but also a part of my brain was damaged, entangling the nerves throughout my body.
Scarlet Peridot pushed me aside.
“Move… please move… Drakhan… I will steer… please…”
I succeeded.
I was afraid the meaning of the painstakingly replaced core would disappear.
“…I’ll do it.”
The giant moved.
Scarlet Peridot, biting her lip, whispered.
“Drakan…you have to hold on. It’s okay. Everything will work out fine.”
“…Yes.”
“You were amazing. Accomplishments that no one else could achieve. Despite the overwhelming difference in armaments, you demonstrated the same competence. You are the greatest warrior of the dragon race.”
“…Yes.”
“No one will be able to catch up with you. No one could have expected it. Breaking through those forces, piercing through that colossal nightmare-like titan, and escaping Albion.”
“…Yes.”
“You’re the best. Drakan… Drakan…please…don’t lose yourself.”
The voice gradually became faint.
Is the sound getting softer?
Is there something wrong with my ears?
“It’s okay. It’s okay. I can survive. If I move through the waterway somehow…”
“…Yes.”
“Pull yourself together. We need to move. Please. Please…Drakan…hand over the controls to me. Quickly.”
I tried to refuse, but my body wouldn’t move.
My feet stopped.
The titan also stopped.
In the stillness for a moment, I heard a faint trembling sound. Someone next to me sobbed.
“Sy-Synchronization…Synchronization, please…Pilot…Change the pilot…”
[Synchronization rate 32%.]
“No…just a bit…no…32%…please don’t…please…”
The titan started moving again. For a moment, my sanity plummeted.
When I regained my senses again, the titan was still moving.
But it was slow. Hesitant. It was moving at a barely noticeable speed.
“Please…please…”
Scarlet Peridot’s whisper reached my ears from the side. I turned my head.
A woman, her lips trembling, is operating the titan.
Scarlet. Scarlet Peridot.
“Yeah, yeah, this is … this is not possible … but, but still, there is a way … there is no way …”
Her murmurs were heard. I reached out my hand.
Scarlet Peridot manipulated the device to regain control, which she had taken.
“W-what are you doing?!”
“I… It still moves…”
“It can’t move. If you keep doing it, you’ll die. I’ll do it… I’ll do it…”
She tried to answer.
No sound came out.
My hand.
My hand did not move as I intended.
I shook my head. When I opened my eyes again, the titan had stopped.
I heard a sound. The wailing of steel. The mechanical sound seemed to be coming from right beside me.
“…Scarlet?”
“Ah… aah…”
She, who was trembling, turned to look at me. Tears filled her eyes as she felt my body.
“You… you’re alive… thank goodness… thank you… thank you… thank you…”
“…What happened now?”
“Yeah, there’s no fuel. There’s no fuel… even if I call Dracan, it won’t move…”
She took my hand. Our connected hands were trembling.
“I… I thought you were dead… so… so I didn’t know what to do… my head went blank…”
Scarlet Peridot murmured.
“Can you… can you get up? … Do you want to try moving?”
“…Ugh…”
I got up. For a moment, I almost hesitated, but somehow I was able to move.
Escape. Yes, this is an escape.
I was escaping. I had to get out. Even if the fuel was gone, my body…
The lid of the titan opened. The world, covered by dark clouds, was being bathed in rain.
Thunder and thunderous sounds. A fierce, piercing rain seemed to numb the ears and drench the body.
She supported me.
“Let’s go… Let’s go… Draco…”
We walked. Slowly taking a step towards the canal.
“Don’t lose consciousness. Hold on to me. Draco. Please…”
“…Okay.”
“Don’t die. Please… please…”
Rain covered my face. I stretched out my foot and glanced at her briefly.
Her beautiful white hair was soaked in blood. Was it mine?
It would be good if the pouring rain just washed everything away.
We walked three more steps. Then I realized.
…Who I am right now.
I’m just a burden.
If I don’t stop them, we’ll both be caught and die, even if we go down the canal.
Someone has to buy some time.
…Me.
“First… let’s go…”
“I don’t want to.”
“It’s okay… I’ll follow you… I can buy us some time…”
“Do you think I’ll believe that?”
Scarlet screamed.
“Why, why are you being so good to me…? Why are you trying to die instead of me?! Why?!”
Why… I think it was…
My head was wet. My whole body was wet. Blood and rain mixed and fell to the ground.
Just…
It was just good.
“Because I like you…”
Whatever I did was enjoyable. When I was with her, I could forget that I was in an unimaginable situation.
Scarlet Peridot.
It was a good moment when we were joking around. It was enjoyable to sit side by side and have a meal with rations.
I was shocked when we set fire to a curtain, but the situation was funny and we laughed. It was also good to roll around together in the burst cooling water.
First, it was sympathy.
Then it was affirmation…
In the end, it was probably love.
And… on top of that…
“Like… this…”
What was it?
Something that keeps touching my heart.
I took out the gun from the holster. Checked the ammunition inside. 20 rounds.
Just right.
Let’s calculate the bullets. I should leave at least one bullet behind.
“I… I have… something to say… a story… that needs to be told…”
I spoke aloud. If I don’t speak, no one will remember.
At least…
At least I wanted her to understand as much as she could.
My selfishness. My despicable side that I couldn’t tell anyone in my lifetime.
It’s good to be remembered beautifully. But at least for now, I wished someone would listen to my story.
Until the end…
Because I didn’t want to share a story that would rot and expose everything inside.
“My… little sister… existed…”
There was a little sister.
Cute and attentive.
She would always smile and respond to whatever I said.
“She was… a good kid… but…”
“I’m listening. Drakan. You can’t lose your mind.”
“I realized… that I was being bullied…”
At first, I didn’t know.
But later, I accidentally found out.
That she was being targeted by a group one grade below ours.
…But.
I couldn’t do anything.
“On a… day… on the way back home… I saw my… younger sister… surrounded by… other kids…”
“Drakan… Wake up… Please…”
“And then… our eyes met… my sister’s and mine…”
There were many of them.
They were much bigger than me.
There wasn’t a single kid who seemed easy to deal with.
I was young, and I was too scared to think about what was right.
…No.
Let’s not come up with reasons. Let’s not add anything.
I simply couldn’t step forward because I was scared.
Honestly.
Don’t make excuses to yourself, not even in the end. Please.
“…I ran away… because I was scared… of getting beaten up… and… because my sister…”
My voice trembled. As I spoke the truth, my whole body shook.
The pouring stares were terrifying. That’s why I couldn’t talk to anyone. I wished to release my crouched desire through games.
My sister’s gaze from that day.
I ignored her plea for help. I didn’t exchange a word with her when we got home.
I wanted to comfort her but couldn’t. I was afraid she would blame me, so I couldn’t even say a word.
I avoided her.
I avoided her because I was scared of being criticized.
But…
That brought the worst outcome.
“A few days later… I committed suicide…”
The reason I idolized Drakan.
The reason I admired him, even when cornered and knowing he might die, he continued to fight.
The reason I repeated numerous tutorials and obsessed over him.
He…
accomplished what I couldn’t do. He fought despite being afraid, for what he needed to protect.
I…
don’t want to make the same mistake
“I… can’t do it… again.”
I pushed away her hand. I rolled on the ground. The metal embedded in my abdomen stabbed painfully.
I gasped for breath. There was not enough air in my lungs. When I took a deep breath, rainwater entered before the air did.
Still, I sat down. Somehow, I managed to sit and supported myself against the sewer.
They’re visible.
The janitors who were rushing through the bushes.
I raised the gun. My weakened hand kept descending.
Still.
With one hand supporting me.
Somehow.
…Please.
“I can’t… not again…”
“Drachen…”
“I can’t… not twice… not like you… please… please… Scarlet… please…”
I lifted the gun. Something fell from my eyes.
It was rainwater. That’s what I believed.
I can’t weaken now. I mustn’t be scared like this, at least not right now.
My brain is trembling. My exhausted body screams in pain.
Still…
If there is a god. If they are by my side. If the reason they called me here is this.
Just a little… please, just a little…
Don’t be afraid… don’t run away…
Like before… together…
So that I don’t make a foolish… choice…
—Please help me…
“You… can’t… not you…”
“……”
“G… Go… Scarlet… please…”
A torrential rain engulfed us. The sounds of metal machinery coming from the rain grew louder.
I saw Harvest soldiers guarding amongst the bushes. They stared at us, ready to attack. Analyzing our strength, maintaining their guard.
“My throat felt cold.
My throat choked as if there was a sickle stuck there.
But still she said, pulling out by force. Anyhow.”
“Let’s go…!”
“Drakan.”
Scarlet Peridot whispered.
Her hand slowly enveloped mine.
“I asked about the dream, didn’t I?”
Her voice tickled my ear. I turned my head.
She was trembling, soaked in rain.
“A cabin… a quiet place with no one… full of books… a place where I can do anything I want…”
“……”
“But now… that’s not it. Drakan. It’s changed. I’ve realized what I really want.”
“……”
“I, I was born again that day. The day you helped me with the medicine… I was resurrected.”
Her voice, soaked in rain, whispered.
I cautiously put my hand on my gun.
“It was the first time. Everything. Even my time with you. So… even if my dream has changed, it’s not strange, right? Right?”
“S…Scarlet…?”
“When I was with you, I was happy too. I didn’t have to foolishly think about the illness. It wasn’t just you reminiscing. I was there too. I… I was there in that place.”
Our foreheads touched.
A cold breath was in front of my eyes.
“Dining together was… nice too… Your jokes were really enjoyable.”
“……”
“The things we did together. Spending time in the simulation. Studying about Titan together. The blanket you would put over me after finishing the research. Everything you did for me, I liked.”
“……”
I felt weak.
The excruciating pain I had been holding back was starting to release in my hands.
Her hand holding mine was warm.
It felt like it would burn in flames.
“Your flaws. It’s okay if you don’t exactly know what they are. But…but…still…”
No.
“You led me. You reached out to the person who accepted death and was just lying weakly. You were kind. When I was depressed, you stayed by my side. There was no one else like that. Just as you can’t abandon me, I can’t abandon you.”
Please don’t do this.
“Just by looking at you trying to be alone in the end, I could tell. You are brave. You’re not a coward. It’s okay. Everything is okay. So…Scarlet…Scarlet Peridot…I…I…”
Unspoken emotions followed through in actions.
Something touched my lips. When it fell, I realized it was Scarlet’s lips.
In the most painful moment, at the shortest of times.
She glanced at the corner of her eyes.
Her voice trembled.
“My dream. You preparing meals without avoiding vegetables.”
“……”
“Don’t live too obsessively, and I want you to take a nap sometimes. I want you to not have nightmares from guilt every night.”
“……”
“Sometimes just stare at the sky blankly, sometimes just sit still in a chair. That’s the you I want. That’s my dream. Drakkan.”
She smiled.
For the first time, without any thoughts.
Now, as if it’s time.
“And…sometimes…every now and then…I want you to remember me in those times.”
My hand trembled. I struggled to get the gun out.
But she shook her head.
“Please find the meaning of the life that didn’t die that day.”
“No…”
“Two hearts in one body.”
She embraced me.
The sound of a heartbeat.
Louder than a downpour. As if the world had stopped.
I…
She and I were trapped in our own little world.
“Can you hear it? The sound of my heartbeat.”
“No… no… please… Scarlett… don’t do this…”
“Even if we’re apart, we’re together. Wherever you are, I’ll be there. I’ll be by your side. Drakan. I’ll be by your side. So…”
Thud.
A hand touched my chest.
“I’ll leave my dream to you. Drakan.”
The hand.
The hand pushed me.
“Scar…!”
With a weak body, I couldn’t resist the force pushing me away.
I tumbled down the steep hill. The unseen water swallowed me.
“Gulp!”
The raging river accompanied by a downpour. Somehow, I struggled and floated to the surface amidst the rough waves.
I reached out my hand, but I couldn’t walk up to the water’s edge. The distance was too far to reach.
I had no strength in my body. Gasping for breath and calling her was all I could do.
“…You.”
Her voice pierced through my waterlogged ears.
“You are the bravest person I know.”
Scarlet appeared. The gun spit fire.
I saw the janitor. I heard the sound of metal breaking.
Once again, the river swallowed me. I tried to rise, but I couldn’t make it.
I sank. I couldn’t resist.
I…
I fell.
Endlessly downward.
To an unseen place.
. . .
“Is there something here?”
“… A body, isn’t it?”
“They’re still clinging on.”
“Wow…they’re alive despite these wounds?”
“It looks like a dragonkin from Albeon who escaped…”
“Yeah, definitely a dragonkin. Look at this. Even if there’s a slight scratch, their minor injuries heal immediately.”
“Hey! Elliot! Come over here!”
“…What’s with this corpse?”
“They say it’s alive. Didn’t they mention that your unit is in need of people?”
“We’re not so desperate that we have to use corpses.”
“Dragonkins are known for their resilience. Maybe they could be an asset.”
“It’s better to use whatever we can to improve our performance. friend.”
“Who said we’re friends?”
“Don’t be so difficult. Let’s go on good terms. I’m being generous with you, you know? In return, let’s forget about what happened last time. Deal?”
“…Hmm.”
“Don’t hesitate. They’re even a dragonkin. You might be the first one to recruit them into our unit. They’ve secretly crossed over to our territory, so we have enough reason to force them into service. And it’s special that we’re granting them this favor, right?”
“…If I can keep them alive. Fine. Let’s forget about what happened last time. I’ll take this person with me.”
“hehehe. Glory to the resistance!”