8

“If you want to die, then die. If you want to live, then live. If you make that choice yourself rather than entrusting it to others, then whichever you choose has value.”

“That is…”

From Sophia’s way of thinking, Ains’s way of thinking was not something she could really accept, but nothing was more foolish than someone who had no resolve to become deeply involved in another person’s life interfering in that person’s life or death.

And Sophia was the same. It had not even been a few days since she met Arabetta. Had she built a relationship strong enough to speak on whether Arabetta lived or died? Did she have the resolve to build one from now on?

Sophia fell silent.

“If you wish, shall I cut off your head with magic, Arabetta-sama? Do not worry. I guarantee that you will feel no pain.”

If one of Arabetta’s retainers had been present, they would have drawn their sword at Ains’s statement, but fortunately, there was no one here besides Ains’s group and Arabetta.

Sophia believed that Ains, who spoke to her with a smile, surely had some kind of thought behind it, and silently watched the two of them.

“That is true… I am sure that even if I learned the magic now, I would not be able to bring myself to cast it on myself, even if there was no pain.”

Without shouting that he was being rude, Arabetta merely gave a weak half-smile at Ains’s insolent words and looked at him with powerless eyes.

What lay in Arabetta’s heart was only the desire to escape from the hardships she would likely face from now on, the hardships of the Elias Domain, and by extension, the pressure and responsibility too heavy for her small back to bear due to the chaos in the Santia Kingdom.

Arabetta had once stood back up, but right now, she did not have the willpower she needed most.

Arabetta had become the lord of Elias, but because she had little experience with chaos, she lacked confidence. She did not have the courage to fully believe in the course of action she herself had decided to take. If she could simply become defiant, things might become a little easier, but she did not even have the nerve to do that.

Feeling trapped on all sides, Arabetta had fallen into a kind of state of confusion. Her nature, which told her that she must not stop thinking, forced her toward a conclusion. In order to keep herself together, it led her to the escape she should never have chosen.

“In the end, I was not fit to be a lord. It will surely force hardship onto the next person, but leaving it to someone else would be far better than having me remain in this position. If there is a next time, I would like a life where I can peacefully enjoy the changing seasons…”

“If you have decided, then sooner would be better, Arabetta-sama. That would be for Elias’s sake as well.”

Ains placed the magic tool on the table and slowly stood up.

The empty right arm wavered faintly.

Ains stood beside the seated Arabetta and held his left hand over her.

After checking Ains’s state, Arabetta closed her eyes with a faint smile, as if she had prepared herself.

“I am sorry for making you take on such a troublesome role, Ains-dono. Surely no one else would be able to lay a hand on me.”

Arabetta leaned back deeply, as if leaving the timing of the magic to Ains.

Sophia could only watch the scene while swallowing. Talidge beside her remained silent even in this situation, yawning all the while.

“Come to think of it, Arabetta-sama, there was something I needed to say before the end.”

“What is it? Since they are your words, Ains-dono, I will listen.”

“The reason I can so casually aim magic at you right now, Arabetta-sama, is because it only weighs on me about as much as killing a horse.”

“Huh?”

Arabetta, who had intended to listen to them as his final words, opened her eyes in surprise at Ains’s unexpected words and looked at him.

“You now resemble a horse.”

“To call me a horse, Ains-dono, is that some kind of riddle?”

Except for Talidge, who was not listening, Sophia also looked puzzled as Ains opened his mouth.

“A horse that had been tied to a cart since birth had grown sick of the painful situation of continuously pulling heavy loads.”

Ains continued.

One day, that horse thought this: if it broke the shaft connecting itself to the heavy load, it would be freed from this painful situation.

Once freed from its hardship, the horse had only to believe in its own peace.

But in reality, that would not happen. The driver would connect the horse with an even stronger and sturdier shaft so it would never break again. And it would be heavier than what it had pulled before.

“How does that relate to me?”

“Arabetta-sama, why do you think the next time will be easier than your current self, when you have never died even once? Next time, you may be placed in an even harsher hardship than now. When that time comes, will you reach the same decision again? Then when will the peace you imagine, free of all suffering, ever arrive?”

“…”

“For you, who have never experienced death, there is only this present moment. You do not even know if there will be a next life, and even if there is, you may become some beast around there.”

Ains lowered the left arm he had aimed at Arabetta and took a breath.

“Even so, if you decide to die for such a reason, Arabetta-sama, then… I have changed my mind.”

“Huh?”

Arabetta wondered what he meant by changing his mind.

“I will pray that you can endure the suffering of your next life, and I will bury you with every hardship I can bring upon you.”

The left arm he once again held over Arabetta was wrapped in ominous magical power.

Naturally, considering Ains’s skill in magic, there was no need for him to show off his magical power so clearly. This was a question aimed at Arabetta.

“…”

Arabetta could only fall silent.

It was true that what Arabetta had was only the current hell before her. However, what Ains said was also true.

For Arabetta, who had never experienced death, the next life was nothing more than wishful thinking. She did not know whether reincarnation existed, and even if it did, there was no guarantee she would be born with a human life.

In addition, no matter what form she took when she received life, an even greater hell than now might be waiting for her.

“…Hehe.”

Tears naturally flowed from Arabetta’s eyes.

In the end, Arabetta had only this present moment. The past had gone by, and the future was unknown.

“Would it not be fine to die after struggling, struggling, and struggling until the very end? When that time comes, let us die cleanly by the roadside and return to the soil. If even a single beautiful flower blooms there, then that is what you call a happy life.”

Without caring about her position as lord, Arabetta wiped her tears with her sleeve.

After she wiped them away, no more tears flowed down the red, swollen marks.

Before anyone realized it, the ominous magical power wrapped around Ains’s left arm had been released.