"I'm going to stay on the side. . ."
Good girl—Lyra held the sword out as if she were going to hand it to me.
"Me."
What are you doing, Lyra?
"I've always dreamed of annihilating all demons. I've had that desire since I was little."
Lyra held the hilt of the sword with both hands.
"Kaela, I see demons everywhere. Even if they tell me Zafrom is an ogre, I don't believe it. People lie all the time."
The sun reflected off the tip of the sword, and the glare hit my face.
"And now a bunch of demons have appeared."
Lyra's hands were trembling.
"My goddess, what are you saying? You want to stand with the enemy? You saved me from the ogres, and you saved Kaela too."
Donkey tried to calm Lyra down.
"When I had no one, he was there every day, telling me what demons are like."
Who is Lyra talking about?
"I don't know who that person is to you, Lyra, but we are your friends."
Seraphine placed her hand on the sword and lowered it, making the tip touch the ground.
"Little girl, hand me that sword right now."
Zafrom struck Seraphine, and Donkey was thrown far away with her.
"Guys!"
Dorian ran over in despair to see if they were hurt.
"Hand me the sword, you stupid little girl."
What do I do? I don't have any weapon. If this keeps going, Zafrom will kill Lyra.
"Don't lay your filthy hands on my friends."
"Aaai!"
Lyra tried to strike Zafrom. He dodged, but the sword grazed his shoulder.
"Whew, Lyra, you scared me. I almost believed you were on the enemy's side."
That was close.
"I really wanted to be on the demons' side to prove to people they exist, but you got in the way."
Lyra blushed. How cute.
"You injured my shoulder."
Zafrom got up furiously. His shoulder was bleeding a lot.
"What did you think of that, demon? You can do anything to me, but no one touches my friends."
Lyra is being brave, but. . .
"Lyra doesn't need to pretend."
"Thump."
Lyra dropped the sword.
"Did you see that, Kaela? Look what I did."
Calm down, Kaela. Lyra didn't do that.
"You dropped the sword when you were supposed to hand it to me. Now Zafrom is going to take it. . ."
Damn it—Zafrom grabbed the sword.
"I was starting to like you, little girl, but you're just another useless person."
At least Lyra stayed with us.
"Ah, Lyra, why are you hitting me?"
I didn't do anything to her. . .
"I lost my only chance to be friends with demons because of you."
Lyra, what am I supposed to do with you? . . .
I patted Lyra on the head. She puffed out her cheeks and made a pout.
"Is everyone alright?"
Ah, it's Cement.
"We're fine, but the number of enemies is greater than ours."
"Ah, don't worry about that. My friends and I are strong."
Strong?
"Watch your foot!"
They can't even hold their swords, for crying out loud.
"Hey, Kaela, why are you sad?"
How are we supposed to beat these ogres?
"Dorian, you ask me why I'm sad. Doesn't this explain my sadness?"
Dorian saw the same thing I did.
"I know Brick's mother is a mannequin, but don't make that disgusted face."
My God, what am I supposed to do? What a bunch of clowns I ended up with as friends.
I have no nails left to bite from anxiety.
Only a miracle can save us now. . .
"Whoever isn't going to fight, stay behind. Whoever is, step forward."
I'm not going. Don't force me.
The Tribe of Men got into position.
"Today's the day I eat a juicy ogre."
They're already celebrating victory before the battle is even over.
"I'm going to take part."
Lyra stepped in front of everyone.
"I'd rather die than lose my life."
Lyra beat her chest.
Is she proud of saying that?
"You've got courage, Lyra."
Cement greeted Lyra.
"Anyone else?"
I looked away, but then I saw Cement's shadow coming toward me.
"I need someone like you—strong, intelligent, cultured."
Me? Me. . .
"Do you accept, great warrior?"
How am I supposed to refuse after hearing so many compliments?
"I. . ."
"The chief doesn't need to praise me like that."
Was he talking to Donkey? I thought he meant me.
No way Donkey has all those qualities.
"Ah, if Donkey is going into battle, then so am I."
Dorian borrowed a sword from one of the Tribe of Men's warriors.
"That's the spirit I like. Youth is meant to be lived."
That left only me and Seraphine.
Seraphine must be trembling. . .
"How do you use this weapon, Brick?"
What? Seraphine is joining too? Her of all people?
I'm the only one left behind. This is humiliating.
"Is everyone ready?"
I. . .
"I'm going too."
"Yey!"
They're celebrating?
"I always thought you were very brave, Kaela."
Brick saluted my courage.
I rubbed my neck from sheer nervousness.
"Someone has to do the dirty work."
I just didn't want to lose to these idiots.
"Everyone ready."
"Aaaaargh!"
We shouted bravely.
"Ogres, this is where we bring the end of a circle to a close."
"Attack!"
And here, four lunatics came together to defeat a horde of ogres.
All brave, all powerful?
Maybe. . .
But one thing united us:
madness.