Глава 8

I only came face-to-face with you today for one thing. I didn't think I'd be forced to sit through your wicked, venomous sermon.

Ah. Have I been waiting for this day?

I often wondered if Wei Yenwu missed the chance to kill me and instead would send one of his hands to do it? So it was you, it was—always going to be you.

To be an executioner for the one who murdered your father, and in place of him who you bear hatred, to kill who he hates. Oh, what a beautiful outcome.

Your slaughter testifies to my point of view. I shall gladly give up resistance, and die by your hand, my daughter. This action will form your bridge towards truth, and allow my death to forge your foundations.

I'm not your daughter... I'm not.

I'm killing you to put a stop to your evil, once and for all.

And then, Talulah, you. You will do evil.

I've heard enough.

And then you will do good. And you will recognize all the good I did.

Ah. This sword. I never had the housekeeper confiscate it... I'm not fond of this sword. You use Arts much more than you use swords... but you were still allowed to carry it.

It will remind you where you came from...

(A great roar.)

...and it will witness our path, yours and mine.

Do you hate me, Talulah?

I won't be taken in, you rotting, putrid snake! You're a villain beyond all else! Your life ends here!

*hiss*, *cough*, *hiss*, *hiss*...

Only the lobe... of my lung... *hiss*...

Your strike... was not... accurate.

I won't hate you, Kashchey.

I may hate your endless, long-winded, rancid sophistry, but you yourself haven't earned my hate.

I pity you. Your death only testifies to your loneliness, your vain attempt to turn yourself into a mirage.

I'll let you know the sheer absurdity of all you espoused. Not that you'd be able to know, now.

Hah, hah... wonder... ful...

With my death, Wei may feel... a weight off him, too...

I look forward... to when... you bare... your regret... your... hate...

...Remember this...

Talulah, remember this.

Your end is in me.

Talulah, very carefully, pulls out the sword from the Duke's chest.

Her mind is somewhere far, far away. She leaves the towering castle, leaves the city, outruns her pursuers...

The seeds, already planted, waiting only to sprout.

And so you came all the way to where we were.

All of that was years ago, now.

...After Kashchey died, did anything happen in the city? Did you run into any trouble?

If anything else happened, I probably wouldn't have ever reached your village.

The city... After I left, I heard Kashchey's domain and wealth were quickly carved up amongst the Fourth Army.

And as far as I go, nobody cares. Who'd care about some... *chuckle* city girl? Not when she made herself scarce.

I did wander too far, though. I only came to my senses once I was already at the old couple's place.

Trust me, back then, my brain was the picture of a mess. I can barely even remember what I encountered along the way.

Ma'am said that the day you came, you were bloody, tip to tail. It was half a miracle she could still wash those clothes clean.

Did you ever wonder, if maybe our village would secretly kill you?

Wait, where's this coming from?!

Well... I'm just guessing, you must've thought of it.

You wouldn't do that. Your harvests were good, you'd just put out the evening dance's bonfire, you had fenced burdenbeasts, and decorations hung outside on the walls...

Your lives might've been tough, but you still enjoyed how you lived.

You wouldn't have killed me. After that, not even the dance would feel right anymore.

Who kills someone and stays calm as a lake? Only vicious monsters would. And they're not common at all.

Don't you think you're too optimistic about people?

I've seen too many bad things. In so many cases, they were done by those without another choice.

If they had the choice to make, I know that the vast majority of people, across the whole wide world, would choose to be good people.

...And nothing like what Kashchey said.

He said that all people were disgraceful, that you'd hate them and their evil in the end, all because you were so kind-hearted.

...What a horrible curse to want to make. It's about as poisonous as words can get.

And that's why I'm sure I'll never hate anyone. Everything they do has a reason behind it.

Do you want me to watch over you?

Maybe that wouldn't be so bad.

But what about after I'm gone? You'd have to figure things out on your own then.

It's bad luck to be so ominous, you know.

We'll always have to confront it. Us little Infected sooner or later have to make our exits.

Taking the little time we have left, and doing something that makes the fact we live worthwhile... there's nothing bad about that.

*chuckle*. I think the same way.

It might not be easy, Alina, it might not be easy, but I still believe the Infected should reunite as one.

We should find where we belong again in Ursus. If possible, this world should in turn examine its own deeds.

After that, it's not just the Infected... not just the Infected.

Whether Ursus, Victoria, Leithanien, regardless of country, regardless of race, regardless of your background... we'll sear away all these things that divide us.

We should all have lives where we deserve to be equally loved. If someone stands in the way of that life, then we'll take back what's rightfully ours.

If you want to do it, you could give it a trial run first.

We'd probably be wiped out to the last.

Wasn't your first step to challenge Ursus, anyway?

No matter what we do, it's all a challenge to Ursus.

But when we give some, we gain some. Despite the fact the return isn't certain to be for us.

I can't call to mind things as wicked as you could... but my impression is that things in this world might not be as good as you often suppose.

You mean?

Talulah, do you only give so that you can gain?

...Alina, no. That's not right. What you're asking for is... too...

I know. But you need to think that way.

I won't. I—I definitely won't.

I believe all we've done will bear good fruit, and the reason is simple to match. Because they deserve that result. Because the creatures of this world deserve that fruit.

...Mm. Okay. Let's go.

Are you going to join with the guerrillas?

I need them to approve of me first.

It'll be difficult.

It'll take more than difficulty to slow me down.

FrostNova! Here's the... person who helped us back there!

Keep your bolts nocked.

*Phew*... *huff*.

You're just like the rumors say. So cold, you Yetis. Cold enough to outstrip this awful winter weather.

Are you their commander?

Infected?

Yes.

You need to explain, then. Why are you wearing an Ursus military officer's uniform?

I've come up with a lot of lies for that. Any preference?

Fire.

Wait! You just don't do humor, do you? Are you the Yeti Squad's leader?

Why haven't you fired?

She really... did just... help us now, Sister. Promise.

It's true, Yetis. I came here to seek assistance, as well as to assist you.

...Assist us?

Let's shake on it, Captain Yeti! When conveying sincerity, I always hope to go the equal and dignified route.