After being yelled at by my father, I was commanded to stay put in my room.
Before I realized it, I was dreaming.
It was the beginning of a long, long dream.
I dreamed of the time that nurtured the emotions at the core of my being. Distant and beautiful, yet so fierce, sad, cruel dream world.
My whole body sank into that enticing lucid dream.
Every time, some kind of static noise would cover my name, but only my name was obfuscated. Even so, I could tell that they were talking to me.
Because I had experienced this exchange hundreds of times already.
When I talked to my family, the traveling party assembled to take down the “Abominations” created by the “Black Peddler”, my tone was always pretty casual.
I looked over my shoulder and saw a familiar face.
One member of my treasured family — the black-haired man returned my gaze with a grin.
We started running together, with me cursing under my breath.
That time, I still thought that those priceless days would naturally continue forever.
As a result, I completely lost.
My “punishment” was for the whole confidence conversation to be repeated to my mentor and the others, but strangely, I woke up before that scene.
I was surrounded by darkness.
My room was completely silent.
I didn’t remember falling asleep, but for some reason, a “Spada” was in my hands.
“Be alert…is that what you want to tell me?”
It was probably a message from that man with the unique hairdo. Always be ready for any situation.
“I have to protect them.”
Because I didn’t want to feel pain like that ever again.
In my mind, I saw my mentor and the others walk through the hellfire.
Their backs looked so faint, as if they would disappear at any moment.
“I won’t let anyone be killed. Anyone that stands in the way will die by my blade.”
In the past, I hesitated to kill. I repeated my pledge to myself, to destroy any such lingering hesitation.
No matter who stood in my way…
No matter how strong they might be…
“There’s nothing my ‘Spada’ cannot cut.”
I swung my “Spada” upward and downward, in succession.
After that, I placed it carefully beside me.
The night was illuminated by a ghastly, pale moonlight.