Chapter 54: The Joys and Sorrows of People are Not Shared
The rain was heavy tonight.
Perhaps it was weeping for the dead, or perhaps it was trying to wash away the filth of the Imperial Capital, or maybe it was simply to set the scene.
In any case, the rain was heavy tonight.
"Sheele... is dead."
When the bruised and battered Mine spoke these words, helpless and in despair, the rain fell even harder.
The emotion of grief grew wildly.
But, strangely, it was acceptable.
"Who... who was it... who was it?!" Tatsumi staggered a few steps in disbelief, grabbed Mine's shoulders, and questioned her loudly, "Answer me, Mine! Hey, Mine! Who was it? Tell me, quickly!"
Mine was silent. Having lost companions many times before, she knew what she should do now.
"What good would it do if you knew?"
"Isn't it obvious? To get revenge for her, of course!"
"Give it up. If you rush in recklessly, you'll only add to the death toll for no reason," Najenda said, placating him calmly.
Everyone knew this, which was why they were silent. Having lost companions too many times, although they were sad, they had gradually become numb.
But Tatsumi, who was driven by his emotions, was experiencing the loss of a companion for the second time. Coupled with his impulsive and hot-blooded nature, he naturally couldn't accept this outcome, especially when his other companions chose inaction.
He questioned loudly, "Hey! We've lost a companion! Why are you all so quiet?! You're just going to accept it like this?! Let's go get revenge!"
Suddenly, a fist struck his cheek.
"How disgraceful!" Bulat said, punching him, then scolding him angrily, "Don't panic! It's not strange for someone to die one day. Didn't I tell you that, and didn't you join us with that understanding?!"
It's because I know that! It's because I know that it's even sadder, isn't it?!
Everyone lowered their heads, mourning for the deceased Sheele.
After a long while, soaked to the bone, they returned to the main hall. They saw a person sitting at the table, reading a book. The serene and elegant figure momentarily gave them the illusion that it was Sheele.
Unfortunately, it was Kobayashi.
"Good work on the mission, Kobayashi."
Najenda gave her customary praise. She was just about to deliver the heavy news of Sheele's death, but she was stopped by Mine. She wanted to tell him herself.
Mine pursed her lips and said in a low, sorrowful voice, "Sheele... is dead."
After speaking, she closed her eyes, as if waiting for something.
However—
"Ah, is that so."
Kobayashi's calm and plain voice came through. It was so calm and plain that everyone was momentarily stunned.
He sounded as indifferent as if he were saying, "Pork cutlet rice for dinner is fine too." Even the motion of turning a page didn't hesitate in the slightest, as if he were turning the page on Sheele's life as well.
"Sheele is dead! Did you hear me?!"
Tatsumi's eyes widened in disbelief. Mistakenly thinking that Kobayashi hadn't heard him, he held onto a sliver of improper hope.
The next second, that hope was shattered.
"I heard you. Sheele is dead."
"You bastard—!"
Tatsumi furiously rushed forward and grabbed Kobayashi by the collar, his fierce expression seeming to question why he could be so calm.
After all, in their eyes, Kobayashi and Sheele had the best relationship. Although he was the last to join Night Raid, he had been very close with Sheele, especially recently when they had been stuck together every day. Their feelings had seemed to be heating up so fast that they thought the two would become a couple.
"Why can you accept it so calmly?!"
"Then what should I do?"
Kobayashi instead questioned Tatsumi. "Should I cry and scream to express my pain over Sheele's death? Should I blame and resent Mine for not bringing her back? Or should I be like you, yelling about getting revenge, only to be told to stick to my duties?"
"But...!"
"The outcome... didn't you all have that resolve from the beginning?! And now you're saying you can't accept it? Can you still be called assassins?! Don't make me laugh!"
But that wasn't the problem!
Kobayashi, who had the best relationship with Sheele, was the calmest of all. Didn't that make him look the most immature?
"Kobayashi is right."
Najenda also agreed. "We are all consumables. Our endings are already predetermined. But Sheele will not die in vain! With this, the Empire should also wake up. As expected, Teigu must be used to fight Teigu! The number of battles between Teigu users may increase after this, but on the other hand, it's also a good opportunity to collect Teigu! This is the beginning of a more intense phase of death, Tatsumi!"
Hearing the Boss's words, Tatsumi gritted his teeth and unwillingly let go.
At some point, the rain had stopped.
Kobayashi had also disappeared, along with the book he had been holding.
...A book?
Tatsumi was slightly stunned, because the book Kobayashi had just been holding was "100 Ways to Cure Being an Airhead," not his favorite, "A Thousand Years of the Empire."
Did that mean he also cared a lot about Sheele's death, but had just been forcibly suppressing it, which was why he appeared so calm?
But I yelled at him... I have to apologize!
Thinking of this, Tatsumi got up and left the main hall.
"Tatsumi? Hey, where are you going, Tatsumi?!" Leone's loud question from behind him went unanswered as he ran towards the back mountain without turning back.
He had to confirm Kobayashi's true feelings!
The muddy mountain road was a little difficult to walk on after the rain, but he still climbed up steadfastly because he saw a set of large and small footprints, which must have been Kobayashi's and RyuZU's. But he was stopped halfway up the mountain.
"I'm sorry, you cannot go up."
RyuZU bowed slightly and said to him, "Master Kobayashi has given orders that no one is allowed to go up tonight. So if you have any business, please come back tomorrow."
"I have something I want to ask him. I won't be long."
"Please don't make things difficult for me."
"Tch."
So she won't make an exception?
Tatsumi clenched his fists in frustration. The confusion in his heart was a torment, though he didn't know why he was doing this.
"Master Kobayashi asked me to relay a message to you."
"A message?"
"'A man is bound to die once. His death may be heavier than a mountain, or lighter than a feather.' You are not consumables. You are chasers of the light."
"..."
So Kobayashi also cares a lot about Sheele's death? But he was able to face it so calmly... As expected, I'm still too immature!
His confusion resolved, Tatsumi felt a sense of relief. He took a deep look at the mountaintop, then silently walked down the mountain, his figure gradually disappearing into the darkness.
RyuZU also turned and walked towards the mountaintop, slowly coming to a stop at Kobayashi's right side.
Kobayashi closed his eyes, using Farsight to watch them.
Tatsumi had just come down the mountain. Mine was crying her eyes out. Leone was comforting her softly. Akame was cooking alone. Bulat was venting in the training ground. Najenda and Lubbock were discussing what to do next.
The joys and sorrows of people are not shared. He only found them noisy.
"People always regret after they've lost something. They say they were prepared, but when the time comes, they can't accept it. But thankfully, there is a chance to start over."
"..."
"Hey, hey, hey, at least say something back. It's awkward doing a one-man show."
Kobayashi complained slightly. But given that the other person's nature was very dazed to begin with, he didn't dwell on it too much.
"Here, you forgot your book."
"...Mmm."
The graceful figure standing to his left gently took the book.
[Resurrection]
Death must be within one day.
The corpse must exist and be mostly intact.
Each person can only be resurrected once.
If the above three conditions are met, one can be resurrected on the spot.
A skill that an advanced [Archpriest] could learn, an [Adventurer] could also learn.
How could he not learn such a divine skill?
Although the skill points required were more, and the effect was somewhat weaker, the skill points he gained per level were the same as an advanced class, so he could just about accept it.
The [Adventurer] class was surprisingly useful sometimes.
(End of chapter)