I couldn’t move. My arms and legs refused to move. Everything was fuzzy. I couldn’t see anything. The smell of ash entered my nostrils. As the screams of the people and the crackling of fire melded together, I was simply powerless. Was I really responsible for all this? All because I protected my sister? Why is the world so unfair? Why is that?

It was as though I was watching a nightmare unfolding before my very eyes. Maybe if I were to wake up, all of this would be gone. 

“Brother!”

This is a dream.

“Brother save mom!”

“Oy maru. Look at it. Your sister is begging you, puahaahahaha! Man, you guys are funny.”

This was only a dream. Right?

*Thud*

“Brother...”

“Ah.. what the hell. She died so quickly. Maru~”

Ava? What’s Ava doing on the floor? 

Why is she looking at me with those eyes? What happened?

“Oy dumbass. I just killed your sister, you stupid little shit. Tch.”

She died? No way, that can’t be. She wouldn’t be dead now. We even ate dinner together. What are you talking about?

Suddenly he pulled me up by the hair. 

“I killed her.” he told me right to my face.

“She died..?” - “She sure did. Wasn’t even that good of a toy.”

“Ah... this is so tiring.” I said while I stood in my field. I’m not too fond of it, but it’s fun and relaxing in its own way.

In the distance I saw Ava walking here on the dirt road, she was carrying water. 

“Pant.. pant... I’ve- got it for you... brother.” She gave me an entire pot of water.

“Thanks Ava.”

“Really brother... You’re so annoying, always asking me to carry things. Hmph.” she was pouting.

“Hey, I’m sorry. Alright. I just needed water.” 

“Well whatever. I’m going now!” and then she was on her way back home on the dirt road. She’d be back soon. She always acts cold, but I know she isn’t like that. Really, that girl is hopeless. And I thought dating Joen would change her, but to be fair Joen is a bit of a scaredy cat. And he looks more like he’s bullied than loved. 

Nonetheless the both of them are lovey-dovey.

It’s been a few hours since I started working, deciding that I should get home quickly, I sheathed my rusty sword. And placed my hoe back into the shed. Drinking some water I started walking on the path way. 

It always scares me, but I don’t like that the great forest of Jashuzsk is right next to the fields. Apparently demons live there, but I doubt anything actually exists. It’s probably to keep kids away from the forest.

Although there might be something else in there, since that might explain why no one uses the forest as a pathway. But you do see travellers from time to time going in there.

As I walked closer and closer to my village, I noticed something on the roadway. It was a carriage. More specifically it was the carriage of the ducal house. It even had the emblem on it. And next to it was... Ava?

What’s she doing there? As I walked closer and witnessed what was happening I was enraged.

With the door open Varkhaz, the son of the duke, hung his legs outside and faced my sister.

“Ah~ Come on. I, the heir to the dukedom, am telling you to become mine. What’s so wrong with that?”

“Sir... I don’t want that... I’m sorry.” as she tried to walk away. Varkhaz held her hands. 

“Hey. It wasn’t a request, you know? It was more of an order. An order, you know? That means you listen to me.”

“Sir, I can’t.. Please let me go...!”

As he took his hand to slap her, I charged at him. My sword unsheathed, and my blood boiling. I came to kick him. Yet he held my foot and looked at me with his head tilted.

“Hey~ I was talking to her, you know? Also who the fuck are you, peasant?” he said with a crooked expression.

“Shut up!” I bashed my head into his and pulled him out of the carriage. Once I kicked him while he was lying on the ground. He rolled away, and stood up immediately.

“Really? You’ll die, you know?”

“Oh, we’ll see!” as the guards of the carriage tried charging at me, Varkhaz lifted his arms up and said “He’s mine.”

“Well then. Let’s start with something really simple. 「Urere Lux」!”

As a ball of light and fire approached me, I jumped to the side, the fireball grazed my shoulders.

“Gah!” as I tried charging at him, he’d fire another one at me, he could keep on firing at me to keep me at bay. I dodged again and again, yet I couldn’t do anything against him.

That’s when my head thought of something really crazy. If I can’t defend and attack at the same time. I’ll just attack! 

As I charged at him, he fired a fireball straight at me, cutting it with my blade. I continued on, yet the split fireball grazed my shoulders. Still continuing on, I jumped over him and locked his neck with my legs. Unable to move, he was at my mercy. Using the hilt of my sword I continuously beat him, again, and again. Without stopping. 

And suddenly behind me someone was pulling me. “Brother, he’s the duke’s son! Stop!”

Finally realising what I had done, I got up.

“Ahahahah! You might’ve killed me, you know?”

“Oh how rude of me, what’s your name Maru~?” - “It would be Maru Alck... Sir.”

He came near me and whispered into my ears. “Maru~ Remember that I warned you before.” he then walked back to his carriage and started going on his way.

Ava hugged me and started crying. “I’m sorry brother... I was so scared... Uwahh...”

“Hey, it’s fine.” I patted her on the back and went back home. Yet I couldn’t sleep. The words he had said to me resonated in my mind again and again.

But soon, I would understand the words he said to me. Because those words would end my life.

Suddenly soldiers charged into the village, and Lord Varkhaz was carrying someone as he came here. It was brother Maru!? 

All of us kneeled down infront of him including the chief.

“Please, my lord, forgive us for any mistake we may have made.” 

I was scared, all of them looked scary, will they kill me? I don’t want to die, please god save me, I don’t want to die.

Ava, who was next to me asked. “Joen, did you do it?” - “I did.”

Smiling at me, she started crying. Varkhaz, who dropped brother Maru’s body on the floor, came near me. As he stamped my head with his foot, he pulled Ava up by her hair.

“God~ I can’t believe you’re so cute.” he said to her.

“Oh, also. Kill everyone.” The forty or so soldiers he had come with started setting the homes on fire, and killed anyone in sight. Slicing the arms and legs of anyone who could be seen. The children had their legs cut off as they tried to run away.

The adults on the floor terrified of the monsters in front of them were shivering on the floor. Without any hope of living they simply stared into the eyes of their killers. Damp thuds could be heard, the thuds of the heads of the people falling on to the bare soil.

“Oh and I’ll kill this one.” He put more force into his foot, rubbing my face on the soil.

“Please don’t kill him! Please!” - “Oh? Is he your boyfriend? Puahahah. Nice, nice.”

Letting go of his feet he let me stand, right as I tried to stand, he said. “Not so fast. 「Coles Altum」!”

A sudden weight, it was as though something was crushing me. I couldn’t stand up. I was kneeling on the floor, unable to move.

As I watched, he forcefully kissed her. She cried. She shouted. Yet I couldn’t do anything. I simply watched as the one person I loved in this world was tormented by him.

He forced himself onto her, Ava simply smiled at me and didn’t once look back. How can she be so strong and still smile at me for the last time? I just wanted to make her a happy girl, she was everything in my life. Yet... Yet... Yet!

Why am I so weak? Why am I so painfully scared of him? Why can’t I save her?

What did I ever do wrong?

“Oh yeah, let’s see if you can kill me.” And suddenly the weight that was on me went away, I could stand up. Throwing a knife at me, he got up and took his sword out.

“Pick it up and kill me if you can.” I took the knife. Closing my eyes, I ran straight at him.

Yet. As I thought I had stabbed him from the sound I had heard. It wasn’t him who was killed but rather me.

As the blood flowed down onto the ground, I fell. I failed my Ava. I’m sorry Ava.

I couldn’t move. My arms and legs refused to move. Everything was fuzzy. I couldn’t see anything. The smell of ash entered my nostrils. As the screams of the people and the crackling of fire melded together, I was simply powerless. Was I really responsible for all this? All because I protected my sister? Why is the world so unfair? Why is that?

It was as though I was watching a nightmare unfolding before my very eyes. Maybe if I were to wake up, all of this would be gone. 

“Brother!”

This is a dream.

“Brother save mom!”

“Oy maru. Look at it. Your sister is begging you, puahaahahaha! Man, you guys are funny.”

This was only a dream. Right?

*Thud*

“Brother...”

“Ah.. what the hell. She died so quickly. Maru~”

Ava? What’s Ava doing on the floor? 

Why is she looking at me with those eyes? What happened?

“Oy dumbass. I just killed your sister, you stupid little shit. Tch.”

She died? No way, that can’t be. She wouldn’t be dead now. We even ate dinner together. What are you talking about?

Suddenly he pulled me up by the hair. 

“I killed her.” he told me right to my face.

“She died..?” - “She sure did. Wasn’t even that good of a toy.”

He then dropped me to the floor.

I don’t want to live anymore. 

What is the point?

| Are you really giving up? |

What else can I do? 

My body feels like it’s being crushed. My arms feel numb, everything looks so fuzzy. 

| Is that all your hate results to? |

Of course not! Of course I want to kill that bastard! Of course I want to avenge my family! But what can I do?! I can’t do anything! I can’t even get up! What was the point of doing anything if I was going to die like this?! Why did I even bother to protect my sister if she was going to die?! Aghhh!!! None of this makes any goddamn sense! I just want to kill him! Kill him!

| Hahahahahah! That’s what I wanted to hear. |

| Since you reminded me of something, I will let you have it. |

And suddenly, a voice spoke to me. A voice that was not like the one before. A much sweeter and soothing voice.

| You have been given the 「Blessing of the Demon King.」 |

| You have been given 「Spatial Magic.」 | 

| You have been temporarily gifted the 「Blade of Rakshasa.」 |

| Now, go kill him. |

You don’t need to tell me.