Chapter 26 – Egido Purification (Middle)

Violet-colored eyes gazed directly at Syltina.

The child who Akari had picked up the previous day called himself ‘Mars’ kept looking at Syltina ever since Akari decided to take care of him.

“Did I do something?”

“Well, won’t you have a bad impression if the first words you hear are ‘put it back’?”

“Eh!? Could it be that you’re glaring at me? Do you hate me?”

“Or more precisely, I’m being cautious.”

“Cautious… Hey… I don’t like it when you stare like that. Cut it out.”

A violet color that shines brightly under the sun.

Absolutely pure, genuine, honest, and lovely eyes that do not know betrayal, deception, or falsehood.

Such a pure heart.

“I wonder how he sees the world?”

“Beats me. We were surely like him at that age, but, I couldn’t even remember how I was before.”

I don’t think it’s ‘dirty’. But, we do ‘know’ a lot. We simply had no choice but to change accordingly.

ーーー

ー

Syltina remembered the exchange she had that morning as she cut the demons down while protecting the child behind her.

Beautiful, violet eyes that turned toward me.

I hate those eyes so much that I couldn’t stand it.

It was something I threw a long time ago.

When in fact, I didn’t have to throw it at all.

A heart that believed anyone unconditionally, the beauty of grasping an extended hand without doubting anything; I truly had everything back then. I should have been able to live with it.

“…..It’s a practical joke, after all.”

Syltina, who laughed to herself, cuts down the last demon and breathes.

During the time I was betrayed, I became aware of the scheme behind those outstretched hands.

I was aware of it, so I could not stay pure.

And so, I chose where I am now.

I have no regrets with where I am presently, nor do I have any lingering attachments to my innocent, past self.

“I had no intention of helping you, you know.”

“……Eh!?”

Syltina frowned as she looked down at the sobbing child.

“Although you’re powerless, what did you come here for? Did you think someone would help you? You’re just like the Saintess. I’m sorry to say this, but this world isn’t that indulgent. The weak die if there’s nobody to protect them.”

“……”

Teary, violet eyes looked up at Syltina.

Syltina met his gaze and glowered further.

“I hate those eyes of yours. I hate those pretty, genuine, untainted, absolutely honest eyes that shine in the light. Just looking at them makes me sick. Whenever I catch you looking at me, I keep wanting to gouge them out.”

Syltina gritted her teeth audibly.

The magic flowing from her body shook Syltina’s hair as her emotions rose.

“Don’t cry, stand up!!”

“!!”

The child was so startled by Syltina’s command that he hurriedly stood up and wiped his tears with his sleeves.

“Even if you understand that you have been thrown away by your family and the light still hasn’t gone from your eyes and if you can believe in someone unconditionally—-”

Syltina talked rapidly as her emotions got the best of her, but stopped abruptly and took huge deep breaths, and continued in a very gentle voice,

“Just live as you are.”

“……Eh?”

That’s right. I get it now.

The disgust and hate I felt toward this child was due to a flick of envy; although he knew his family had betrayed him, he did not throw away what I had given up on and discarded. This child did what I couldn’t do.

I have no regrets about my present.

Nor do I have any lingering attachments to my past self.

Those are my genuine feelings.

But, I wonder. I wondered. If meeting this child was fate.

Perhaps even I could have lived beautifully and honestly like this child. Maybe there was such an option.

“But, well…the present me wouldn’t have chosen that. Either way, I don’t have any regrets or lingering feelings, really. However…hey, that’s why you should just live as you are. Undistorted, undamaged, clean, and honest.”

Whether your family throws you away or betrays you, whether the world oppresses or steals from you, live honestly, hold on to the light.

“If you are betrayed, get hurt. if you are oppressed, cry. If you are being used, get angry. If you are helped, be thankful. If you receive protection, express your gratitude, and if you receive laughter, then laugh back.”

“……”

Before you become betrayed, betray. If you are being oppressed, return it two-fold. If you are being used, then use them in return. Doubt if you are saved. Be vigilant if you are protected. Even if you receive laughter, return nothing.

Never make the choices I did.

“Now, this is your only chance. What in the world did you come here for anyway?”

“……Uh… well..”

“Hmm? Is it your house?”

“Yes.”

The child, who didn’t expect the sudden change of topic, was momentarily confused, but pointed to a single house up ahead.

“There were other kids like me who were left, and everyone was talking about what they should do, but I was the only one who went out of the town to go where my dad went, so the other kids were left behind.”

“…… Is that so?”

In other words, other children aside from him were also left behind in order to decrease the mouths to feed.

While those other children were discussing what to do next, he was the only one who decided to go after his parents and left the town.

That’s why he, being unable to stand the state of the transformed town, approached Akari and Yuto.

But surely, those remaining children have already……

“……”

Syltina pulled the child’s hand and started walking away.

The child, who started walking as if he was being partly dragged, sniffled after walking for about 10 steps, and started sobbing after about 15 steps.

But despite that, he never stopped and said that he wanted to see the house that he had pointed to earlier.

That was the reality thrust before such a young child.

“Cope with reality. Accept reality. And then, choose your own path. Don’t regret it. Don’t look back twice.”

“……Okay!!”

Syltina gently stroked the head of the child who nodded as he cried.