Глава 6

My Arts were powerful, I proved as much to my enemies and teammates alike.

Of course, my body, as you can see, is only that of an Oripathy sufferer.

I felt special, not because of my illness, but because of the feelings my frost instilled in me.

I saw my ability as a blessing, but Buldrokkas'tee, that grumpy old fart, treated it like a curse.

I couldn't feel the cold as we waded through the deep mud in the swamp, icy water soaking my legs.

The old man wouldn't let go into battle, even as his soldiers took heavy casualties.

He lit his oil lamp and sat quietly at the table by himself. I think he was crying, but I couldn't be sure, and I didn't know if I should comfort him.

In my fifth year, I summoned a cold stream for the first time in the face of the enemy.

One soldier was frozen into a block of ice, another accidentally fell on the block and they both shattered into pieces.

I joined the fight, the soldiers looked at me in awe, my brothers and sisters were proud of me, and other infected said——

'That's our big sister. She saved all our lives.'

Did my Arts actually save anyone?

The children from the mine carried the Originium crystals I had made, and we became the 'Yeti Squad'.

Those crystals radiate my cold, and we bring frost and vengeance to the enemies of the Infected.

But that's really... just cold. The cold of winter that won't birth new life.

Even so, I feel very lucky. For my brothers and sisters could survive.

We could live in this world.

Have you ever wanted to coexist with ordinary people?

Ordinary people....

What do you mean by ordinary people?

The unarmed but cold-eyed citizens of Chernobog who watch the infected being put to death? Or the Ursus conscripts in the mines who take pleasure in shooting us?

Every time I think of the faces of those overseers, I grit my teeth and fantasize about slitting their throats and drinking their blood....

But I don't hate the Ursus.

As our guerrillas trudged through the snow, retreated from the valley, and were even chased by the Ursus army....

It was the Ursus who would put a few cups of breadbrew in their windows.

The Ursus have never been cold-blooded creatures. The only enemy I have is the Empire of Ursus that has tormented the Infected so.

I don't think of ordinary people as the enemy. Ursus who are taught to hate the Infected are just ordinary people until they are blinded by that hate.

It's only because 'enemies kill each other' that we've fought as we have. That's all.

I'm an Infected person, yes.... But before that, I was a normal person.

What about what Reunion is doing now?

...My main conflict with Buldrokkas'tee is in his work to protect the Infected community.

'Reunion, first name. That. Infected, can rely on.'

'No matter where, Reunion goes. No matter what, it does. We cannot, abandon it. To lose Reunion, is to lose, Infected conviction. Fight for: conviction.'

That's what the old man says. That's what the old man believes.

Why do you keep pausing like that?

Because that's how he talks now. I was just, *ahem*, preserving his cadence..

Dr. {@nickname}, do you know why Rhodes Island is a nameless pharmaceutical company?

Because you can't take a stand on the world stage. As soon as you take that step, you'll become what Reunion is now.

You will go down this road.

Maybe.;........;Will we really?

Hmm.

After a dozen years of rolling around on the tundra, an Infected woman reached out to us. She said, 'Come with me, and let us break all chains.'

Imagine it: we met in the ruins of an old city that had become a battlefield. She was alone, carrying nothing but her roster and a book of ledgers.

Even the things she said I found impractical to the point of ridiculousness.

But she said to us, 'Come with me.'

She fought with us, and with her strength and ideals, she became our friend. Together we left the snowy plains and headed for the cities of Ursus.

Whether was the words she spat out after pausing to think, or the swing of her great sword as she slashed alongside me, her power was real, and plenty impressive.

When the wounded needed treatment, she was there. When discussing strategy and philosophy with the Infected, she was there. And when fighting against the Ursus death squads, she was also there.

...We even get to dine with some regular people. She didn't care. There was nothing in her eyes but the purest authenticity.

Our team grew and so did our friendships. The people brought in were good at fighting, and they were good people.

At the time, I considered her my friend. She quietly helped me make these candies, even though she was terrible at it and they tasted worse.

She made a funny face as she ate them. Then she'd force a smile at me.

It was really something. She worked so hard to put on a brave face. It made me laugh.

Everything's different now.

Chernobog was destroyed by a Catastrophe, as you can well see. All the normal people here died or became newly Infected.

Their eyes were dead. No desire to live anymore whatsoever.

If this is what she wanted, then we never should have followed her.

And in case you didn't know, here's a secret....

She's planning to take over Lungmen. She says it won't be like Chernobog, and that the Infected will get their own city instead of a giant ruin like this place.

Would you trust someone like that?

If she's acting, then she's the greatest actress the world has ever seen.

But there's a thought stuck in my head.

'What are my chances of winning if I went up against her?'

Once we part ways, once I find out she's been lying to the Infected, or that she's been plotting against them...

I will fight her. She must know the price of betrayal.

My countless deadly battles with Ursus have cleansed my mind and honed my skills.

I say with the utmost conviction: even if I cannot defeat her, I can let death take her from the world along with me.

The stubborn old man wouldn't agree with me. He's fought too long, and his old age is driving him down a path that leads only to sacrifice.

You don't agree with your father's ways.

He is strong against his enemies and he is loyal to his friends. But when he needs to stand up for them, he will face the reality that his friends make him weak.

The old man who has believed in people all his life.... The old curmudgeon never thinks about what to do after being betrayed.

Maybe he's already taken that bitter pill. He bore the pain of betrayal over and over again his whole life, and he said nothing.

Whether it's an Infected who heard about Reunion and decided to join up, or an Infected who feels they can get away with anything.

Reunion is factionalizing and our leaders are doing nothing to stop it.

I will definitely go back to Chernobog after the Lungmen business is over. This time, I must face her.

Because... I am not long for this world.

...I promised my brothers I'd find a home for everyone. Before I fall, I have to make good on my promise...

Why are you telling me all this?

Because the look in your eyes tells me that you're not just another executioner.

Maybe. So what?;........;I'm not sure if I am.

It's best to doubt yourself. It's the only way you won't go through life fanatically convinced of something.

...Do you hear voices outside?

It sounds like they're digging above us.

And my body is....

Well.... I can move my fingers already.

Thank you.

For what?;.......;Did I do something?

Thanks for helping me pass the time.

Dr. {@nickname}, I'd like to make a bet with you.

If your people dig us out first...

I will kill all of you in the blink of an eye.

If my brothers and sisters break through first, your life ends here.

Wanna bet?