Chapter 184-4

Chapter 184-4

[Part 4/4]

She was happy to have something to focus on and support her heart. Although the baby wasn't related to her by blood, he helped her daily and never caused trouble. This made her feel loved and relieved, bringing her heart some peace for the first time in a while.

If she didn't have her son, her feelings toward her daughter would be more complicated and twisted. Her daughter, showing the terrible curse of their blood, was a burden to care for.

She was the result of an unwanted pregnancy, but also the only family member Ine had left. Without her son, Ine might have given up on living. If the villagers found her daughter, she would try to escape, but she might have easily accepted her own death.

But that's just a what-if scenario. In reality, even though things were tough, Ine loved her daughter, and she loved her son too. If the three of them could stick together, they could overcome this painful life. They should have been able to.

Now, she had lost her source of strength.

"No, no..."

She sobbed, shaking as despair overwhelmed her. She couldn't understand what had happened just a little while ago. Strange memories, both hers and not hers, swirled in her mind, adding to her confusion.

She couldn't grasp what any of it meant. All she knew was that her son had been killed by her transformed daughter, and his body burned. Even her daughter had been taken from her. Ine lost everything in less than half a day.

"Why... why did this happen?"

Why did it come to this? What choice did she make that was wrong? What should she have chosen? Doubts and regrets swirled in her mind. But it was all too late. It felt pointless. There was no way to turn back time.

And... her crisis was far from over.

"Why is this happening? It's your fault for raising those monsters, you fool!!"

"Huh!? Ah!?"

She heard the insults, and then felt a kick to her side that sent her rolling. She coughed and spat out stomach acid, tears in her eyes, as she looked toward the voice.

Coming toward her, breathless and aggressive, was that outlaw exorcist.

Kuki Sabitsugu, the third son of the Kuki family from the Northern region, dragged his chain sickle behind him. To this man, who looked down on and hated the Mōryō (youkai), Ine was no longer worth keeping alive.

"Damn it! You stupid bitch!! You, filthy whore!! Die, just die! I'll kill you, you traitor of humanity!!"

The pain and suffocation from the grip around his neck still lingered, and the humiliation of letting the monsters escape made his whole body tremble. The outlaw exorcist glared at Ine with barely controlled anger.

Frightened by his intense killing intent, Ine tried to stand and escape. But it was too late. The swung chain sickle cut into her calf. The wound was shallow, probably because he wasn’t at his best.

Otherwise, it would have been a clean cut. For someone like her, who couldn’t handle pain, it was excruciating. She collapsed on the spot. There was no escape.

"Damn it, you got away...!! Damn it, you piece of trash!!"

Cursing himself, the outlaw exorcist moved closer, his eyes gleaming with rage. Ine tried to crawl away to create some distance, but he was getting closer and closer.

Then, from behind the outlaw exorcist, another presence appeared...

"Huh?"

"Isuke-san..."

Both Ine and the outlaw exorcist turned at the same time. Standing there was a hunter. Like the outlaw exorcist, he was battered and barely standing. Isuke came forward, using his flintlock gun like a cane.

"You..."

"Exorcists, is there any presence around?"

Before the outlaw exorcist could respond, the hunter asked his question. Though he felt a bit uneasy, Sabitsugu thought it was a good idea and began to search for any presence around them.

"...I see."

With a sense of resignation, the hunter aimed his gun at her again. Ine felt a hint of kindness in his demeanor. Maybe his earlier question was giving her a chance to explain herself and save her life.

Thinking back, despite the clear lines of their roles, this hunter treated her better than others in the village. Once, while gathering herbs and wild vegetables in the mountains, he advised her on poisonous plants and their locations.

He even shared some wild birds with her shortly after she started raising her son.

...If she gets killed, will this person benefit? The reward will probably go to them too. If her life is worthless, it might be good to help someone she owes a favor.

(I'm sorry, Shirona)

She apologizes to her daughter, who will be left alone after she goes to her brother. She sincerely wish for her to be strong, tough, and to live long with kindness. Then, she closes her eyes to accept the coming time...

...But the final gunshot never comes, no matter how long she wait.

"I'm going to stop your bleeding."

"Eh...?"

Before she can respond, the grumpy hunter starts treating Ine's leg injury. He whistles, and his hunting dog, which he had held back during the fight with the monster, comes running. He loads the dog with supplies and prepares to take down the village traitor.

"Ow...!?"

"Hang in there. I put some anesthetic ointment on it. The pain should fade soon."

Supporting Ine, the hunter begins to walk.

"Wait!? Isuke-san!? What are you...!?"

"We're crossing the mountain today. It'll be tough, but I want to get away before the pursuers can regroup. The day after tomorrow, we'll reach the next village. From there, we can catch a cart to the city."

"No, that's not what I mean...!?"

Why is he doing something so ridiculous? Ine's gaze pleads without words. She doesn't understand. A trap? This hunter shouldn't have any reason to help her...

"If your injury doesn't heal and you keep hurting, you're not like that monster in a kid's skin. If you're human, you're not a stranger to me. Letting you go is a good deed for the next life."

Because his job is full of killing, he needs chances to save lives to receive Buddha's mercy... The hunter snorts, sounding bored as he mutters this.

"That's not..."

"Also... that guy said you had nothing to do with it."

"Eh...?"

"...I'm talking about this."

Then Isuke cuts off the conversation. He stops talking, and the two of them, along with one shadow, gradually disappear into the snowy mountains.

The villagers and the hired outlaw exorcists don't know what happened to the two of them and the shadow. In this cold wind, they might have died somewhere. But maybe...

It's a secret from a long time ago. A small event buried in the borderlands. It's not recorded in writing, just a tiny detail left in the memories of a few people.

That's right. A boring little detail, but it's the true history, and it's the most important wish...

Fanart:

A slightly moody Shiro-chan: Here