Chapter 4: Confession of sin
1027 Words
The disappearance of my Paladin medal that seemed so complicated at a glance, in truth, was something really simple.
"Isn't the girl you collided with responsible for it? After you hurriedly flew away, she picked it up."
Witch said as she was brightly glancing at the gold coin.
That was something I also thought about. If I couldn't find it all from all these searches, then probably someone picked it up.
From the start I had an uncomfortable feeling.
“Noire…”
You were unskilled in operating the broom to the point that I wondered about whether you were flying poorly on purpose.
Given that the lowest requirement to enter this country was to be able to fly properly with broom.
At first, I thought Noire might be a native of this country, but then I heard her story saying she was a magician who expressly came here from the eastern country... And with that, it would be even strange being unable to fly on broom.
…
I was suspicious about you from the very beginning. And, I kept waiting. For you to return the medal to me.
"But while hiding it in your hands, you didn't hand it over to me. On the contrary, you ended up talking about your wish of always staying together."
This much is already a limit thinking that, I started talking.
Sitting on the bed with her head hanged down, I wonder what kind of expression is she making? She didn't scream like she did at first when I touched her shoulders. Sorry, but, I'm not a kind person to that extent.
I just continued waiting for her. For the girl hanging her head to avoid the moonlight.
I wonder how long has passed since then? One minute? Ten minutes? It might even be just 10 seconds.
"......Why?"
Small voice, that was barely audible.
"What is it?"
"Why didn't you press me a question?" - This time, it was clearly heard.
"First reason is because I didn't have a positive proof.
Even if I said: "You are the culprit!"
"............"
"And also because I believed that you would return it to me at one point. To me, Noire didn't look like a bad person at all."
Just like a child spoiled by the mother.
In my eyes, she was reflected as an innocent cheerful girl.
"That's why, I was constantly waiting."
I told her.
With that, she finally lifted her face. Her pretty face was ruined from the wrinkles of tears. Noire wiped her eyes, and along with sobbing:
"I was lonely."
"I'm not your little sister."
"I know… I know that, but.......I-I wanted us to be together."
It was a voice that seemed like it would disappear anytime now. Was that towards her sister? Or, was it towards me?
After meeting Noire by chance, what do I even know about her? It would be same as not knowing anything, but I somehow understood what kind of person she was.
A hopeless elder sister who was always spoiling her cute younger sister. Surely, that's who she was.
But she couldn't endure going with her little sister.
"Loneliness felt bad, bad, and frightening, that's why I…"
"?”
I flicked her forehead. With clink!, a rough sound reverberated.
"That is not a reason."
Feeling bad from being alone, you rely on someone. From the unpleasantness of the ridiculing loneliness, she desperately searched for someone who would get along with her.
Feeling scared from the solitude, she frantic ran from place to place.
Honestly, I think it's a very detestable behavior.
"So what if you are alone? And what if you feel lonely? If you are afraid of them, then you won't become a Witch Apprentice? Truly, no matter what you accomplish, a person will always be lonely. It's no good if you are not alone. If you start getting along with others, then that's the end."
I wonder if her little sister said the same to her when leaving. I won't know that truth.
"......But"
"Aaahhhhhh. I don't want to hear it. Your sorry excuse won't reach my ears!"
I covered my ears with both hands and started shaking me head. Making the shaking sounds. I swung my hair with a force that it hit her face.
Ah, I got a little irritated.
"Surely, fighting alone is painful. It's scary. I can understand that. That's why──"
Saying that, I took out a ribbon. A matching red ribbon place on my hair.
I put it on her head.
"That's why, take this. In order to be alright, please take this part of me and carry it with you."
Noire tightly grasped the end tail of the ribbon.
"But, to take something that's Miss Hanayuki......."
"It's fine… That is an immitation… This one in my hair is irreplacable.”
“Is it given by someone special.”
“I think… I don’t know… I don’t know mostly of my past. I have memories from five years ago.”
"With this, we are the same. From now on, you will be alone. But won't be alone at the same time. Me and your little sister as well, we will always be watching over you… That's why, return the medal to me.”
I said in order to persuade her.
Her shoulders trembled, she quietly nodded.
That form looked so empty and frail.
I embraced her slim shoulders.
That day.
We spent our final night together. After she stopped crying and calmed down, I instructed her about ways to pass the Magic examination, then heard stories about her and her little sister's country, as well as telling my own tales from adventuring, and other various things.
Speaking of which, Noire seems to be a splendid magician. Well, I knew about it. But I wonder why is it that only at the time of using the Wind Magic, she start to get worse in it? No matter how much I asked about that, she just turned bright red and didn't answer. What the hell?
In the end, we fell asleep after the sun started rising. It was a long, long night.
But, it became a precious memory.
- Writer
