The Spreading Ripples[]
The sky was covered in thick clouds, completely obscuring the sun…-.
We were brought to some scaffolding built onto a narrow cliff, and many birds flew above us.
We were brought to some scaffolding built onto a narrow cliff, and many birds flew above us.
- Kaasa
- “Have you prepared yourselves?”
My hands were bound, and I couldn’t even wipe the sweat from my forehead. All I could do was look at the others.
Gradually, the commotion caused by the followers gathered in the area swelled.
Gradually, the commotion caused by the followers gathered in the area swelled.
- Byakuyo
- “Hold on, let me go! What are you going to do if you get my beautiful clothes dirty!?”
- Kaasa
- “I’m simply pleased you’ve answered my summons.”
We were trapped at the edge of the cliff, far above an ominous and bottomless pit.
- Kaasa
- “Soon, you will become the cornerstone of peace. Doesn’t that make you happy?”
- Avi
- “You talk big, but you’re just going to throw us down there.”
- Kaasa
- “I’m pleased you understand.”
(What do we do… we have to figure something out…!)
I looked around, but nothing looked like it would help.
Then, I noticed Chouette watching us with a blank look on his face.
I looked around, but nothing looked like it would help.
Then, I noticed Chouette watching us with a blank look on his face.
- Chouette
- “……”
(What…?)
- Kaasa
- “Oh? The Princess of Traumere is looking away. She must be quite composed.”
Kaasa walked slowly in front of us, smiling giddily.
- Kairi
- “…I can’t stand people who are happy over someone’s death.”
(What do we do…?)
- MC
- “…Kaasa.”
Without thinking, I called his name.
- Kaasa
- “Oh my, are you going to beg for your life?”
- MC
- “I have nothing to ask of you. But… you don’t know anything.”
- Kaasa
- “Well now, you are awfully conceited.”
Kaasa stopped in front of me and looked at me with eyes full of hatred.
- MC
- “Even when we’re gone, hope will not die.”
- Kaasa
- “……”
I thought of all the people we’d met.
- MC
- “People won’t stop wanting to hope… and they won’t stop dreaming! Aren’t you the same?”
I could see the hatred growing in his eyes.
Refusing to turn away from those eyes, I clenched my fist.
Refusing to turn away from those eyes, I clenched my fist.
- Kaasa
- “…you are an infuriating woman till the very end.”
After a moment of silence, Kaasa slowly started speaking.
- Kaasa
- “If you’re that certain, I’ll put it to the test.”
As Kaasa spoke with a cold voice, he forcefully pulled me over.
- Avi
- “Don’t touch her!”
- Kaasa
- “…as you wish.”
Smiling at Avi, Kaasa gave me a slight nudge from behind and I suddenly stood at the edge of the abyss.
- Navi
- “Princess!!!”
- Avi
- “Damn it, let us go!!!”
- Navi
- “Kaasa…”
Navi’s voice was menacing as he spoke Kaasa’s name, so different from his usual tone.
- Navi
- “Our princess is the unchallenged Princess of Traumere… and the people gathered here are all princes that bear the weight of their country’s futures.”
- Kaasa
- “What are you on about now?”
- Navi
- “…if the princess comes to even the slightest harm… in front of all these people… you understand what will happen, don’t you?”
Navi’s voice flowed with rage, but Kaasa’s smile only deepened.
- Kaasa
- “Yes, I’m well aware… if all of you die, your citizens will fall to despair… that is precisely how I will save them. Ah, though if you’re worried that the people of their countries will then come after me, fear not. What happens here will remain a secret; no one outside will ever know what happened.”
- Navi
- “…!”
- Kaasa
- “Let’s see, all of you… were chasing after hope and perished on the road. That’s what they’ll be told. Then this world will abandon hope… haha… HAHAHA!! How’s that? Wonderful, isn’t it?”
As Kaasa laughed in delight, his neck bent at an unnatural angle.
Before long, he took a step forward and spread his hands out wide in a gesture towards the gathered followers.
Before long, he took a step forward and spread his hands out wide in a gesture towards the gathered followers.
- Kaasa
- “Now, let the judgement begin.”
- Followers
- “Lord Kaasa…!”
The crowd of followers looked at Kaasa with worship in their eyes.
- Kaasa
- “These people are harbingers of calamity upon this world… They preach hope, yet expose countless people to danger. To protect this world, we cannot allow them to do as they please anymore. People must despair! And these people… must be erased from this world!”
Kaasa’s voice resounded through the crowd, and all the followers nodded in unison with dead eyes.
- Chouette
- “……”
Chouette, standing behind Kaasa, looked at the followers with an unreadable expression.
- Kaasa
- “Helena, come forward.”
(Helena…?)
At Kaasa’s beckoning, Helena was pulled forward by other followers.
Kaasa glanced at her, then took a sword that had been resting on a nearby stand and passed it to her.
At Kaasa’s beckoning, Helena was pulled forward by other followers.
Kaasa glanced at her, then took a sword that had been resting on a nearby stand and passed it to her.
- Kaasa
- “Now, take this sword. …you know what you need to do, yes?”
- Helena
- “Ah…”
Kaasa smiled as he watched Helena visibly tremble.
- Kaasa
- “With this, your despair will be complete. Now!”
- Helena
- “…!”
Kaasa forced the sword into Helena’s hands.
The eyes of the watching followers all turned to her at once.
The eyes of the watching followers all turned to her at once.
- Kaasa
- “Helena…?”
Helena was looking straight at us.
After a moment, she squeezed her eyes shut, still trembling, and dropped the sword.
After a moment, she squeezed her eyes shut, still trembling, and dropped the sword.
- Helena
- “…I can’t do it.”
The sword made a clanging sound as it hit the stone at her feet.
- Kaasa
- “……”
- Helena
- “These people… they told me that I didn’t have to give up on hope. They told me they wanted to protect it. And I… I want to believe in it again.”
As Helena’s words filled with hope, the shadows began to move.
Dream Eaters Appear - Chouette
- “Uh oh, Dream Eaters…!”
- Avi
- “Dream Eaters!? Hey, let us go! Let us fight!”
- Kaasa
- “There’s no need for that.”
- Byakuyo
- “What are you saying!? They’ll get everyone here!”
- Kaasa
- “Behold.”
As Kaasa urged his followers to look, they closed their eyes as they trembled.
- Follower 1
- “A-aah!!!”
As the Dream Eaters attacked one of the followers, the one next to the victim slowly lowered his head.
- Follower 2
- “I am calm…”
- MC
- “What…!?”
- Shigure
- “…why aren’t they fighting back…!?”
- Kaasa
- “They’ve been trained well, haven’t they? Wishing for help will only cause more Dream Eaters to appear.”
- Shigure
- “That’s crazy…!!”
Kaasa smiled boldly, then grabbed Helena by the neck from behind.
- Kaasa
- “Look! This is the price of your words, Helena.”
- Helena
- “Ah…!”
- Kaasa
- “Because you cling to hope, those people have been put to sleep!”
The Dream Eaters turned towards Helena…-
And the second it looks like Helena is about to fall apart…-.
And the second it looks like Helena is about to fall apart…-.
- Byakuyo
- “Pull yourself together Helena!”
Byakuyo calls out encouragement to Helena from behind.
- MC
- “Byakuyo!”
Somehow, the others had gotten free of the ropes and moved to surround both Kaasa and I.
- Kaasa
- “Tch…! How did you get free!?”
Kaasa tightly gripped my arm.
- Kairi
- “I’m particularly good at escaping.”
The Dream Eaters that had been aiming for Helena changed direction and started to come towards us…
- Avi
- “Hey, use this!”
Avi swiped weapons from the guards and started throwing them, arming all the gathered princes.
- Avi
- “…listen up, don’t let them harm a single person.”
(Everyone…!)
Quietly, the deepest part of my heart filled with prayer.
Quietly, the deepest part of my heart filled with prayer.
Battle After we’d defeated the Dream Eaters, a stillness fell over the people.
- Kaasa
- “…you’re certainly a hot-headed bunch.”
Kaasa let out a sigh as he spoke, then tightened his grip on my arm.
- Avi
- “Let MC go.”
Ignoring Avi, Kaasa turned to address his followers.
- Kaasa
- “It seems we’ve gained another sinner.”
Kaasa muttered those words with a glance at Helena.
- Avi
- “This has nothing to do with her!”
- Kaasa
- “Really? How could it NOT have something to do with her? She turned her back on our teachers, spoke such repulsive words, and on top of it she evaded a merciful end from both my blade and the Dream Eaters. My creed is absolute justice… I must give a suitable punishment to those who turn their backs on justice!”
(That’s so horrible…)
- Luke
- “So you’re finally showing your true character.”
- Byakuyo
- “…what a hideous sight.”
Kaasa was breathing hard as he glared at us, his face so full of anger it looked like his eyes might pop out of his head.
The followers watched with bated breath as the situation escalated.
The followers watched with bated breath as the situation escalated.
- Avi
- “…what kind of justice just lets you sit and watch as someone dies in front of you? Closing your eyes to everything… and living like you’re dead. Is that happiness? …well, what do you think!?!”
Avi’s voice cut straight to the followers.
I could hear them all gasp at Avi’s words while they continued to watch.
I could hear them all gasp at Avi’s words while they continued to watch.
- Chouette
- “……”
The uneasy murmurs and whispers started to spread.
- Kaasa
- “Be silent! Helena.”
Helena was shaking violently.
- Kaasa
- “You know what needs to be done, yes? Because of you, so many people have had their hearts twisted by sin. Ah, this truly is a horrendous crime. Yes indeed… Let’s have your next act be to free these people of their sins.”
Kaasa’s smile was forced as he pressed a knife to my neck.
- Avi
- “STOP!!!”
- Kaasa
- “Don’t move!”
Even as Avi and the others filled with rage, the followers surrounded them.
- Navi
- “Princess…!”
- Kaasa
- “Now then.”
- MC
- “…!”
Still pressing the knife to my neck, Kaasa motioned to Helena.
- Helena
- “……”
Helena picked up the blade she had dropped earlier.
After a moment, she pointed the blade at herself and squeezed her eyes shut.
After a moment, she pointed the blade at herself and squeezed her eyes shut.
- MC
- “Helena, no!”
- Helena
- “Lord Kaasa, I will die… so please, let them go…”
- Medi
- “What are you saying!?”
- Kaasa
- “A wise decision. If you die, no one else will be attacked by Dream Eaters. Now, regret your words of hope, and absolve those tempted by sin.”
Helena lifted her shaking hand…
- MC
- “…!”
(No…!)
I used all my strength and yanked free of Kaasa’s grip.
By the time he realized, I was already throwing myself towards Helena…
I used all my strength and yanked free of Kaasa’s grip.
By the time he realized, I was already throwing myself towards Helena…
- Kaasa
- “Wha…!?”
The sword clanged as it hit the ground.
- Avi
- “MC! Your arm!!”
(Huh…?)
When I looked at my arm, I saw blood flowing from an open gash and falling to the ground.
When I looked at my arm, I saw blood flowing from an open gash and falling to the ground.
- Navi
- “Princess…!!! How could this happen!?”
- Helena
- “Princess…!”
Avi rushed forward, knocking Kaasa to the ground.
- Byakuyo
- “We have to stop the bleeding…!”
Swiftly untying a cord, Byakuyo forcefully pressed the fabric to my arm.
The followers that had been surrounding them simply stood there in confusion.
The followers that had been surrounding them simply stood there in confusion.
- Avi
- “You’re going to regret that…”
Avi loomed over Kaasa, his fist raised high overhead.
- MC
- “Avi, stop!”
- Avi
- “You stay out of this!”
- Hinata
- “MC…”
Hinata looked straight at me, then turned a sharp gaze towards Kaasa.
- Hinata
- “I won’t forgive you… doing that was a big mistake!”
- MC
- “Hinata, not you too…”
Perhaps from the blood loss, I felt weak.
- Shigure
- “You shouldn’t move…!”
- Luke
- “We need more cloth!”
- Kairi
- “Move… we can use this to stop the blood.”
- MC
- “Avi…”
- Avi
- “…!”
I looked at him desperately, and Avi punched the ground.
After a moment, Byakuyo was holding Kaasa down and Avi stared fixedly at the followers.
After a moment, Byakuyo was holding Kaasa down and Avi stared fixedly at the followers.
- Avi
- “Are you all insane…!? You’re grown adults, just standing there and watching a girl die.”
- Followers
- “Ah…”
The group that had surrounded Avi and the others exchanged glances.
- Avi
- “Have you no heart…?”
- Helena
- “Please forgive me… the princess was hurt trying to save someone as worthless as me…!”
- MC
- “Helena… please don’t say that.”
- Helena
- “Princess…”
- MC
- “I’m glad you’re okay.”
I smiled at her.
Then…-.
Then…-.
- Follower 1
- “…you don’t know anything… did you think none of us have been fighting?”
One of the followers started speaking quietly.
- Follower 1
- “The Dream Eaters just kept multiplying… but we have no king, so there was no way for us to defeat them. I lost my fiancé.”
- Follower 2
- “…I lost my daughter.”
- Follower 3
- “I lost my children. They were still so small. And my husband who was trying to protect them.”
(Everyone…)
Seeing their mournful expressions, we all sank into silence.
Seeing their mournful expressions, we all sank into silence.
- Follower 1
- “I couldn’t protect anyone with these hands… not a single person.”
- Follower 2
- “What Lord Kaasa said was true. If we lived our lives without hope, the Dream Eaters didn’t appear.”
- Follower 3
- “Last month, I was finally able to have another child… I will cling to any teachings in order to protect them!!”
With that cry, the sky split open…
Dream Eaters Appear In the next instant, Dream Eaters started to rise from the shadows of the group.
- Followers
- “Ah… AaaAAAHHH!!”
Someone screamed, and the panic spread.
Soon that single scream morphed into a maelstrom of screams, and one by one, people began to collapse.
(They want to hope… but they instead call on despair.)
(That’s why I…)
Soon that single scream morphed into a maelstrom of screams, and one by one, people began to collapse.
(They want to hope… but they instead call on despair.)
(That’s why I…)
- MC
- “We have to help them…”
- Hinata
- “MC…”
- Kairi
- “Don’t move. Do you want to die?”
- MC
- “We… we have to help them!”
My voice rose in desperation…
- Avi
- “…let’s go!!!”
At Avi’s cry, the others tightly gripped their weapons.
- Kairi
- “…we’ll end this quick.”
I gathered all the strength I could muster and tightly grasped my ring.
Battle Once the Dream Eaters were defeated, an eerie silence fell over us.
As I looked around, many of the followers were on the ground, still, and others were surrounding them.
Those that were left seemed about to break down into sobs.
As I looked around, many of the followers were on the ground, still, and others were surrounding them.
Those that were left seemed about to break down into sobs.
- Avi
- “…!”
Avi put his hand to his forehead and let out a sigh.
- Shigure
- “So many… were put to sleep…!”
Seeing that, Kaasa let out a strange and ominous laugh even as he was still restrained by Byakuyo.
- Avi
- “…what’s so funny?”
- Kaasa
- “Whose fault is this? Do you really think you have any right to grieve for us? Look around you. I was correct. Can you say you protected these people who have been here this entire time? All while you were going around the world defeating Dream Eaters?”
- Avi
- “……”
- Kaasa
- “It is DESPAIR that can save the world. I’M the one who can save the world!!”
As soon as those words fell from his lips… something in the darkest shadows started to writhe.
Dream Eaters Appear - Kaasa
- “…!”
- Avi
- “Dream Eaters…!”
The Dream Eaters seemed to be moving to attack Kaasa.
Seeing that, everyone froze for a moment.
(Kaasa is…)
Seeing that, everyone froze for a moment.
(Kaasa is…)
- MC
- “Everyone, please!!”
Before I’d realized it, I was crying out.
- Avi
- “…damn! Let’s go!”
Battle After the Dream Eaters were defeated…
- Followers
- “They attacked Lord Kaasa?”
- Followers
- “Lord Kaasa, the embodiment of our teachings…!?”
Kaasa let out a heavy sigh.
- Kairi
- “…we saved him, but should we have let him die? That’s what your teachings are saying, right?”
Kairi spoke quietly, then took out a knife.
- Kaasa
- “I-I… simply got caught up in all this! YOU’RE the ones who arbitrarily chose to come and save me.”
Kaasa’s voice was shaking as he shouted.
- Shigure
- “The one who protected you… was MC.”
- Kaasa
- “She has the Ring of Traumere. You’re pretty haughty considering you won’t even take it off!”
- Byakuyo
- “I wonder why it is that you would say something like that… in front of the girl who is bleeding right before your eyes.”
- Medi
- “You clearly don’t understand women.”
- Navi
- “The Princess will protect everything and everyone. Even you… no, even all of you who want to dole out these executions…”
- Followers
- “Ah…”
A disturbance started to spread through the followers.
With a pale face, Kaasa placed his hand over his eyes and let out a deep, deep sigh.
With a pale face, Kaasa placed his hand over his eyes and let out a deep, deep sigh.
- Chouette
- “……”
Chouette, who had been quietly watching everything that happened, held his hand out to Kaasa.
- Chouette
- “Lord Kaasa, this way please. All of you, go.”
Chouette called out, then a large number of people appeared from hiding.
- Avi
- “You…!”
- Chouette
- “You can just leave the rest of them to me and have a nice, long rest.”
Chouette’s voice was cheerful, if a little strange.
(I’m losing…)
(I’m losing…)
- Avi
- “MC!”
Everything started to drift further and further away…-.
Translation: HanXanth
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