2 The First Episode: The Disappointment and Choice




 The shadow sat down at the table and said, in a scandalous and amusing way.

I am a bearer, no matter how far I go. I will not force you to choose. If you want to stay where you are, I won't deny it.

 My eyelids tremble. My eyelids tremble. In the darkness, pitch black, he looks at me as if to say, "What will you do? No, I can't exactly see him, so I'm going to say probably.

 What the hell is this guy? What the hell is this thing? He suddenly appears, suddenly raises his voice, and gives me an opportunity.

 Why? What's his purpose? By what means?

I can almost understand your question! And they're easy to answer. But alas. I can't tell you now. No, you can't!

 Here's what I know from just a few words. This guy is just a big deal.

 As usual, his body is frozen in place. He couldn't even move a fingertip. He can't even open his mouth. But this guy, as if he understood my intentions, continued to speak alone.

"Yeah, I know. There's no way you can trust me with this. It's like a sheep blindly following a wolf! But alas, I am neither a persuader nor a negotiator. I'm just a carrier!

 Of course. How can I trust a man who exudes strangeness all over his body, all over his speech? Oh, that's right. You can't trust him.

 He leaves me to my own devices and continues his monologue.

"I am the carrier. I'm the one who's gonna give you the chance to rewrite your life. You can say no, you don't want that opportunity, or you can accept it with open arms! But first, I must tell you something.

 His voice, which had been rough, self-centered, and unclear as to whether he was really speaking to me, now turned clearly in my direction.

"We certainly have a vested interest in giving you the opportunity. That's a fact. It's a fact. We who are not gods should not just give you something. I brought you here because I know it's in our interest to give you the opportunity.

 His voice was different from the somewhat joking tone he had used in the past. It was very sincere and seemed to be his own words. But that didn't mean that I could trust his words, of course.

"One time. This is a one-time opportunity. You're fortunate enough to have a choice. Now.

 What will you do?" the shadow asked, finally shutting its annoying mouth.

 What do I do?" I wanted to retort. I'm not given any information, no facts. I'm just being confronted and asked to answer in one way. As usual, there was no way I could trust him.

 My mouth opens. I could feel air going down my throat. I think I can speak. If I shouted out here, the other party members would notice. And then even he would have to retreat. I might get killed in a fit of pique. But that's my role in the party.

 Yeah, yeah, that's my role. Protecting, embracing, and sometimes dying for the dangers of the party. That's what I do. So I know what I'm going to say.

"I accept, of course.

 It was the obvious thing to say.

 You can't trust me. It could be a trap. It could be a trick. It could be a bad prank by the sorcerer. Even so... Yeah, even so... I don't think I can slap back a hand that's extended to me.

This is fortuitous! That's unexpected. You may be twisted, but you're also a straight man. You're a twisted but straightforward man, so of course we expected you to refuse!

 As if regaining his momentum, he spoke wildly and with a sense of joy.

 Unexpected. Indeed, that's what my normal self would have done. I wouldn't have hesitated to martyr myself for the party, even if it meant losing my life. But then I realized...



"...... I just figured it out. I finally understand now. If I continue to waste my time in vain, nothing will change. Constancy breeds corruption, and I'm not.

 Before I knew it, my body had started to move. Now, I didn't have the energy to reach for my sword. There was only disappointment.

I'll give up. Someday, I don't know, somewhere.

 He fell silent at those words. It wasn't that he was at a loss for words and closed his mouth, but that he had words to say, but couldn't deliver them. It seemed to be saying that.

 I turned over gently and meditated. I could still see Alueno's face. Not any other beautiful sight, not any other treasure. All I could see was her. I'd seen so many sides of her in this journey.

 Her beautiful profile, her strong spirit, her loving smile.

 And the way she looked at the man who called her savior with adoration.

 I hadn't given up. I was going to. Someday, somewhere. I kept thinking that in my heart. But it was no good.

 All I had was a broken heart and the inertia to stick with the party just for the fact that she was still there.

 And in that journey, I'm sure that one day I'll give up. All of it.

I can't stand that. "I can't bear it. If I have to give it all up. If that's the case.

You'll take the hand. Even if it's a wolf, even if it's a demon!

 The shadow reached out to me softly.

 That's right. I have nothing now. My life is worthless without Alueno. If you can change that, I'll make a deal with you, even if you're a demon.

Welcome, Lugis. Your presence. "Welcome, Lugis." "And give me another chance! I am the one who carries!

 Strangely enough, I thought I saw a figure in the moonlight that I hadn't seen before.

 It may have been my hallucination, or it may have been just the impression I received from him that gave shape to the shadow. But the figure that I saw...

 It was an unmistakably human figure with a devilish expression on his face and a smile that seemed to have lines on it.