Глава 16

The traditions that drive us never to whitewash our pain, long buried deep underground, will again be unearthed.

The cries that compel us never to attempt diminishing this cruelty, long fallen silent, will again ring loud and clear—

When that time finally arrives, perhaps... perhaps our great nation's future will change for the better. All angers will be quelled, all sins will be forgiven, and all pain...

All of it will be assuaged by the purity of patience.

<p=1>Northern Tundra Wilderness, Ursus</> <p=2>Year ■■■■</>

Quick! Run!

Keep running and don't look back! Just like the others!

No, we won't get away... We can't run from this! Even if we make it out of Ursus, nothing but death awaits!

*cough*— *cough cough*!

Stop breathing so hard. You're going to breathe the snow in and choke—

Indeed.

He will choke on his blood.

*cough*—

What? How did you break free so fast? No way... Impossible—

You are a clever one, but it is not enough. The illusion you cast on me was rooted in your own experiences, to a certain extent.

Your mistake was not realizing that putting us through the pain in your illusion is like trying to shift mountains with a feather.

At the very least, this demonstrated your power. You have what is needed to become <i>its</i> replacement.

I told you. I don't know a thing about you or your demonic power testing, and I'm not interested.

This is not an invitation. This is an ultimatum. Of course, you have been able to save them not once, not twice... but three times before I tired of this.

But I tire of this charade now.

Stay back, unless you want to take away my corpse.

Your 'voice' is no longer calm. You are beginning to doubt yourself.

What is the price to use the Yurodstvo's power when you are not one?

I don't understand what you are getting at.

All things have a price, and you are nearing your end.

Perhaps we're both going to die together at that end.

Just us.

So you did not hear them... or perhaps you simply do not have the energy left to notice more?

You did not hear the sound of those footsteps on the snow... You are trying to save these people, even if it means sacrificing yourself to kill us... yet you are unable to hear that they are only meaningless parasites.

They are never willing to stray too far from their homeland. They claim to be unwilling to turn their backs on their motherland and hold onto the meagerest glimmer of hope. If they choose to run, they intentionally slow their steps, or even turn back to face their deaths.

By leaving this place, they will become unable to confirm their own existence, even if this existence would bring them nothing but despair.

Unfortunately, your warning is meaningless.

What—

Just as you told them.

'Do not look back.'

Ugh—!

*cough*— *cough cough*! Hah—

I don't wish to bring Ursus a Yurodstvo whose bodily functions are ruined. This would waste a lot of time. Even with your abilities, it's hardly a fair deal.

Thus, again I recommend that you give up, and come with me.

I'll say it again, too. I have no idea what a 'Yurodstvo' is, and I have no interest in becoming one!

Besides, even if I go with you, what about the Infected? The ones you chased... into a dead end...

They have their own destiny to walk.

No...

Perhaps you should 'speak' your mind more clearly.

I said, no.

I need to...

There is silence and tension all around. A complete 'sentence' has yet to surface out of the aether, and the snow continues to fall around them, but the black entity has stopped marching forward.

Before the next cluster of snow even touches the ground, a dark mist has already begun to spread.

'Stay.'

He suddenly loses his urge to continue forward. The other half of his cognition, stripped of reason, waits for the sight he saw earlier to reappear.

The same trick won't work twice...

But nothing. There is nothing.

There is only the inexplicable pause, the pitch black substance endlessly emanating from him, and the thick dust accumulated from the mist.

Almost like there is black snow falling.

What...? But I—

....Ah.

The demon inside of me has but a slight leak, yet you are able to use my power to shackle me?

I am just using the... illusion in that filth trapped in your body to make you face yourself.

No more meaningless struggles. Else...

*cough*...

Else, you will die.

In your own Dominion...

*cough*–– *cough* *cough*!!!

Now sleep...

<i>Bozhe moy.</i> This... This—

Boy... Boy! Are you okay? Is that black monster still coming after us—

—Aah!!!

*cough*... *cough*...

He... won't chase you anymore.

What?

Quick. Get out of here. Head south before he comes to. And don't you turn back again.

You have to leave this place, if you want to live...

Wh-What are you talking about? He won't chase us anymore?

What's that supposed to mean?

*cough*—

Are you saying you managed to convince that unreasonable lich?

Enough! Go!

Go...? Go where?

The preacher told us before: 'Those who turn their backs on the motherland can scarcely be called human.' We... We don't want that!

We don't want to turn our backs on the Tsar, on Ursus... and you...

You managed to get him to stop chasing us... You saved us, and you accomplished the impossible, but you still won't tell us your name? Just who are you?

That's not important. I...

Or... are you perhaps—

Are you perhaps the Yurodstvo who vanished long ago?

What...?

But the Yurodstvo should be in the splendorous palaces of Deity Grypherburg, at the Tsar's side.

No...

Right. Right! If you don't belong here, then this blessing received is a stolen one. In that case, it's only fair that we're punished for it.

'We must endure,' 'we must persevere...' 'We must be silent!' But we haven't been able to do any of that...

Even so, you protected these sinful souls.

In that case, you must be the Yurodstvo. Otherwise, you wouldn't have the kindness and compassion to offer the Infected a helping hand, as equals.

In that case, there is only one name you could bear.

The name that you don't want us praising. The name shared by all Yurodstvos.

'Gabrielus.'

Gabrielus. Gabrielus...

It's the Yurodstvo. Our Yurodstvo has returned!

The Yurodstvo? Like the one in the tales?

Is it the Yurodstvo that Mama said would love us even if we had the Stone Disease, even if it is not by our side?

Yes, it's her! She has returned! She defeated the villains and saved us! That's something only the Yurodstvo could do!

The Yurodstvo has saved us! Yurodstvo—