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Why?

H-He can't do anything without me...

You're scared he's gonna run away.

You're thinking... why did he leave you alone with me? With a devil?

Am not!

Suka! A monster like you——

Shut up.

Wait here for him. Don't move.

Or I'll kill you.

Nnng——

Who do you think I am?

I'm a killer.

I'm the killer who destroyed this city, hurt your parents and friends.

Ah... haha. That's right.

I forgot you had that blade. Look, it's got a Sarkaz charm on the hilt, and it's still bloody.

Whose blood do you think it is?

*Whimper*... I, I don't know... you made him...

Go ahead and cry. Kids can cry.

It's all up to you... whether you live or die.

He can't do it...

You sure?

If I hadn't dug him out of those ruins, he'd already be dead...

He needs me.

Nope... nobody needs anyone.

Nobody does.

This ruined city got quiet again.

There's a lot less resistance, after that slaughter. That's a good thing. Less effort. Less death.

But it's quiet over at the hospital too. Nothing moving over there, as far as I can tell.

He... he didn't...

Huh?

Maybe... he didn't actually go...

It's been... Nng... so long...

He ran away.

But you saved him. Wouldn't he want to save you too?

...I...

Or maybe you're strong enough to save him, but he couldn't save you?

He... He can't do anything right!

Like when we went looking for food! He couldn't even tell there was someone else in the store!

It's all his fault my leg got——!

Where are you going?

I... I'm going home alone...

I already told you, you leave and you die.

But he already ran off!

Hah.

I can see it in your eyes. You hate him.

N-No I don't!

But if... if he did go... it's been so long... he must be...

——Shut up.

You won't know anything until he comes back.

You can sit here thinking he's coming back, or that he's not.

But if you're thinking that he's not, if you're doubting him, hating him, that's on you.

But you went right to thinking he blew it and ran off. Why?

Because you saved him? Because you're the strong one?

...*whimper*.

Waaahhh——

You're still strong enough to cry.

Settle down. Give it a minute and you'll be in too much pain to cry.

You're young, you're not Sarkaz. So if can't take it anymore, you can tell me.

I'll end it for you.

Wah... aahhh... waahh...

You're losing consciousness.

Ah well... guess he won't make it in time.

No... I can still...

I'll wait... for him...

You've got faith in him again. That's because you're scared to die.

Kids are a good judge of character. You won't get this kind of stuff out of me.

....Hnng...

But he's definitely taking way too long.

Got maybe ten minutes.

Don't worry. If it comes down to it, I'm not gonna let a kid die in pain.

...can't even whimper anymore, huh?

What are you thinking?

Do you hate me? Or him?

Or maybe you hate yourself for sticking your nose where it didn't belong, saving that kid, and getting yourself hurt?

...I don't...

You sure?

So you can still talk. Guess I misjudged you.

Look, Rublev.

What do you think it is that decides what a person's gonna do?

Is it a nature or nurture thing? Where they're born, how they're born? What kind of baggage they're weighed down with?

Nah, none of that matters.

It's the whole, complete, sum total of the influences on his life, all those changing thoughts and beliefs.

And just how strong he believes in those beliefs.

You saved that kid, but you didn't really trust him completely. You looked down on him, because you saw yourself as his messiah.

But him? He's easy. You saved him, he wants to save you.

When it comes to this stuff, he's stronger than you are.

Keep the blade. It's a Sarkaz blade, so I'm allowed to stand in for its owner and give it to you.

Wave it around, learn to swing it, sell it for cash. Whatever. It's yours.

That's the deal.

What... are you talking about...?

R-Rublev! Are you okay?!

Look!

I did it! I stole an entire box of medical supplies! Painkillers! Bandages!

Rublev...

Keep it... down. I'm not dead yet...

O-Okay. Let me bandage your wound...!

How do you use the bandage...? Is- is this the Oripathy medicine? I-I'll open it...

Aren't... your parents doctors?

Oh... they never taught me anything. But I'll try...

...You got hurt?