Глава 8

Well done.

You've done well...

What is this? The dragonslaying sword couldn't cut me, the sword of the Lord of Fiends' couldn't pierce me, so why is... my Arts... My control is fading away?

The flames gradually die down. Even though the heat remains harsh enough to kill, it's far less brutal than several minutes ago.

Ch'en's bloodstained hands don't stop trembling. She's barely blinking.

Do you feel joy?

Is it a good feeling?

You are so close to victory, so why are your expressions so heavy?

Victory is close at hand... is it not?

...Ugh.

Her Arts have been dispelled... We can talk again.

Don't be rash, Amiya. We're also...

Are you planning to banish me from this body?

Feel free.

Who the hell are you mocking?

O Lord of Fiends, why do you not speak?

Come and chase me out of her body. You——

You can do it, no?

What difference is there between judging her and judging me? Are these crimes not all my fault?

Lord of Fiends? Answer me.

You're not wrong, Kashchey.

If she was completely unwilling... you wouldn't have been able to do those things.

Those thoughts that belong to you... Regardless if they have been twisted, they all originated from... Talulah herself.

You!

Are you planning on harming Miss Talulah's body?!

What are you doing?! Put that sword down!

Have you ever seen someone cut his throat in front of you, 'sister'?

Not even a Draco's body can withstand the sharpness of this sword.

I cannot do what she does not wish to do.

So, can Talulah continue to live?

Don't even think about it!

The despair within her heart, the unescapable shame. Are they strong enough, powerful enough that she would want to——

End it all?

Kashchey! Everything you've done to Talulah is unforgivable!

Regardless if you're just her shadow, an obstacle to her awakening, or another side of her... No matter how many wrongs Talulah has committed, you're definitely not in the right.

I am merely 'educating' her.

My failure stems from my enduring persistence. When you encounter a person without persistence, you will come to realize how much is contained within the word 'suffering'.

Just like how those Ursus warriors unfortunate enough to become her sacrifices are relegated to nothing more than the solid road beneath her feet.

These poor, pitiful Infected that should have exerted their value... They're all wasted now.

Even I myself am just part of the road she steps upon. If I had succeeded in killing you, 'sister'... It'd be a lot simpler.

You could say that we are the Black Snake. You could also say that I am Talulah.

Ch'en Hui-chieh, oh Hui-chieh. Talulah and I are just one of the many types of father-daughter pairs.

Perhaps Wei Yenwu is similar to me.

You have the nerve to say that?! After sacrificing your own 'daughter'? He's nothing like you!

N-No... You mustn't——

Too late, Lord of Fiends. I will not let you reveal my secrets.

Kashchey, you were planning to kill Miss Ch'en so that you could kill off Talulah once and for all!

And now, you can't do it anymore. We've aroused her memories and caused them to echo within her mind for long enough. She can no longer bear it.

Miss Talulah! Please remember... Please recall who you are!

No matter what kind of sacrifice it may be, if it was you... You would sacrifice yourself first for the sake of others, right?

Think about FrostNova, about Faust... Think about all the warriors who believe in you. Think about yourself!

Are you really just going to let us take your life like this...! You could never accept your death while having your body manipulated like this!

Even if you were to feel remorse, even if you felt sinful, you should do so as yourself... And not as the carrier of a curse, the victim of an ancient evil!

Even if you wanted to die, you should die as Talulah! Die as the Talulah who wanted to change the snowfields, the Talulah who wished to change the fate of the Infected!

Miss Talulah, I know!

I know that you weren't seeking achievement nor glory when you began fighting for the Infected... It's fine even if you failed! You did so because you believed it was the correct thing to do!

That's why, no matter what kind of people we are facing, no matter what world we face... We will always strive to move forward, never stopping until we can finally rest!

Aren't you that kind of person... Aren't the people you know all like that?

Talulah, are you content being a puppet of this snake?

Will you let it end like this? Is this really the Talulah I know?

Are you really worthy of being called the leader of the Infected?!

... I'm not worthy.

Hng!

Could it be... Miss Talulah...!

This is definitely not the first time the white-haired Draco attempted to resist her 'father'.

The leader of the Infected...?

I have never been.

He has only ever taught her about his schemes. Those schemes were in fact statements of intent.

Though she knew all about it, she was never able to stop herself.

Even before the hatred she has for those things she cannot accept, she first and foremost...

Hates herself.

I've failed. I've fallen into your trap. What's worse is that it was all of my own doing.

Yet, even so——!

You may not mock my kin.

What right do you have to mock those kin of mine who refused to concede to the bitter end?!

The different between me and you is that your 'love'... is just sacrifice.

Mister Buldrokkas'tee, Yelena, little Eno, little Sasha, the quiet Lyudmila, the kind Alex, Alina...

What right have I to mock them?

What right have I to mock my Infected kin who're struggling to survive?

Enough. You can stop here. I'm no longer you, Kashchey. I'm different from you... I'm not another Black Snake.

I might be a Kashchey... But I'm definitely not another Black Snake.

Your curse must end here today.

...My hatred has killed far too many. Don't even think about using hatred to incite me any further.

Heh. Kashchey, that hatred and history you've carried with you for countless years... It will all end with me.

You may be the seed, the vines, the towering tree... It doesn't matter, Kashchey.

I am fire.

'I taught you all of this?' No, Kashchey. This world, that snowfield, those people chasing after the sunlight... You will never understand the things they taught me.

The people who could direct my power are already there. Even if you made me lose them... You can never control my emotions ever again.

My fire will burn through you and me alike.

This fire, raging from the plight of my kin, from all those who are enslaved, will burn you and your branches to a crisp.

You... you! You dare oppose me? How could you——

...Why would I ever let you escape from my fangs?

Are you angry not because your plans have failed, but because you're not able to control her anymore?

Control? She is me... I am her!

Of course, Kashchey... How could a daughter of Draco be as dark as a worm like you!

M-Miss Ch'en? You mustn't let the Phidian operators hear that!

Ah. I once had a snake boss who was incapable of telling a lie... never mind.

Kashchey, there's only one reason you failed. You're not worthy.

You're not worthy of possessing my sister's body. You're not worthy of starting a war. In fact, you're not worthy of the experience you've talked so much about.

So get the hell out of Talulah's body right now!