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I still vividly remember the emotions I felt at that time.
The sword is swung, and fresh blood splatters.
Familiar scenery is burned by flames, and familiar people are turned into silent corpses.
A world that is ending. A world that was closed. A world where nothing is rewarded.
It's a world that is just harsh, just unreasonable, and just full of hurt.
Her hands are outstretched, her fingers move, her lips tremble, and yet she still begs.
Even if it was a world without salvation, it was all I had.
For a long time, it was a world I could only peek at from behind someone who blocked my view.
That wall was suddenly removed, and he narrowed his eyes at the dazzling world that unfolded before him, the heat and color of the flames burning his skin, the smell and color of the scorched flesh, the beauty and color of the 『Horns』 flying in the air, he engraved everything into his eyes, into his vision that had not yet been fully openedーー
What were you thinking in a world that may be coming to an end?
I still remember the emotions I felt at that time.
From then on, her entire life was spent making up for those feelings.
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--For a girl named Rem, being compared to her older sister was an extremely painful part of her daily life.
Among the demi-humans, the physical strength and mana possessed by the demons are exceptionally high.
His unparalleled fighting strength, and the racial traits that have earned him the title "King of the Forest", have further strengthened his superiority in the natural world, and he has demonstrated strength worthy of being recognized as one of the strongest demi-humans.
With their physical strength and the quality of mana they can use, there is no other race more reliable in combat.
If there is one weakness that the Oni tribe has, it is their small number as a species.
The seeds, which were specialized in producing powerful individuals, were not able to produce a large number of sprouts, and the demons were forced to live a life contrary to their power, setting up small settlements deep in the mountains.
However, contrary to their toughness, most of them had gentle temperaments, and not many were dissatisfied with their lifestyle.
And because they were a race living in a remote area, there were many strict rules.
Breaking the rules will result in punishment, and in the worst case scenario, banishment. For these creatures, who live in huddles due to their small population, banishment means lifelong loneliness.
Therefore, the law must be followed no matter what.
--To the demons, twins are "unwanted children."
This was one of the strict rules established among the few demons.
Originally, demons are born with two horns on their heads.
In normal times, the horns are hidden inside the skull, but when circumstances change which stir up its demonic instincts, the horns emerge from its head and begin to devour the mana in its vicinity.
They can subjugate and control the mana in the air, greatly increasing their own fighting power. Their horns are the organs that allow them to do so, and for the Oni tribe, they are a source of pride for the species.
And then, what happens next, the twins share the two horns at birth.
Among the Oni, those who lose their horns are called "Hornless" and lose their status as a member of the species. Even the loss of a single horn is enough to cause condemnation. And yet, the twins are born without their precious horns. How can this be anything but abhorrent?
For this reason, twins are considered taboo and it is customary to dispose of them immediately after birth.
Their fates should have ended then and there.
At the moment when the chieftain made the agonizing decision to execute him, one of the twins unleashed an immense amount of magical power - if only his natural talent had not been discovered.
The older twin was named Ram and the younger Rem, and they went on to leave their names as the lowest-ranking members of the demon clan.
It cannot be said that their lives have been smooth sailing.
Even though their lives were saved, the fact that they were twins could not be erased.
Labelled as "hornless" from the start, they grew up being treated coldly by everyone in their family, including their parents.
Despite being related by blood, their parents maintained a distant attitude. Their own kind did not hide their disgust and contempt for the two rejected children. For the girls, who could not yet walk, or understand language or malice, this was the worst possible upbringing.
However, their life in such harsh conditions continued until they were old enough to understand - or, to be precise, until the older twin sister gained self-awareness.
The easiest word to describe Ram as a child would be "prodigy."
Her talent is unmatched among all the demons of the past. Despite her young age, she possesses an outstanding amount of mana, and more than anything, the beauty of her horns captivates all the demons.
Without becoming complacent about his own talent or ability, he presented himself honestly, just like the pure white horn that grew on his forehead, and all of his fellow tribesmen naturally bowed their heads to him.
For a girl not yet even ten years old, this was truly special treatment.
Her parents, who had always been distant from her, her fellow tribesmen who had openly mocked her, and even the clan leader who had tried to kill them shortly after their birth, were all speechless before her majesty.
A demon chosen from among the demi-human races of the great powers, born to be the pinnacle of that demon race.
Because they respect powerful individuals, they never fail to show their gratitude towards powerful beings. And because they are such demons, there is absolutely no calculation in their devotion to Ram.
Rem's daily life consisted of simply following, with clumsy steps, on her sister's path to glory.
He has no outstanding talents. The amount of mana he can use is average. His strength as a demon is also average for a single-horned body. Unlike his sister, he has no confidence at all, and hides behind her, acting as a shadow so as not to be seen or talked about by others.
This was how she got along as a young girl, and a means of defense to protect her underdeveloped mind.
It's not that my sister was jealous.
It's not that I hated my parents.
It's not that he disliked his own kind.
The older sister, who always walked ahead of her, was always kind, looking back many times to lend a hand to her younger sister, who walked slowly.
As her parents, who had always been distant from her, learned of her older sister's talents, they began to shower the same love and affection on her younger sister, Rem.
Many of her fellow villagers looked at her with expectation and envy as she tried her best to follow in the footsteps of her exceptionally talented sister.
A sister who is the kindest of all. Parents who have high expectations of her. Everyone in her race who encourages her to become as great as her sister - all of this was like an ordeal to Rem.
The fact that she looked exactly like her sister probably had some influence.
Although they are similar in every aspect, from their heights to their facial features, the only thing that is vastly different is the qualities of the ``demon'' that reside within them.
Of course, Rem also tried to change the situation.
It was nothing more than the shallow, childish trial and error of a young child, but Rem had tried every method possible to get even one step closer to her sister, and striven to excel her in any one area.
But in everything her sister surpassed her.
Even as a small child, Rem realized that there was a realm she could never reach no matter what she did, and that this realm was someone closer to her than anyone else, someone more precious to her than anyone else.
I can't match up to my sister.
Her older sister is always the one standing in front, bathed in the light that illuminates the world first. Her own position is to timidly peek out from behind her, her body shrinking in the dazzling light.
Once I gave up like that, I was able to accept all the daily hardships as they were, like grass and trees blowing away the wind.
--How long did these days of resignation continue?
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One night, Rem woke up feeling uncomfortable due to the heat.
Lying down on the wooden bed, she pulled the covers off her sweaty body. Looking around, she suddenly realized that her sister, who was supposed to be sleeping in the bunk next to her, was nowhere to be seen.
I immediately knew I had to go find my sister.
If she was awake, then she had to follow her majestic steps. Even if it was just a momentary awakening to relieve herself, Rem was dominated by the obsession that she must not miss it.
As she thought about leaving the room, she finally realized something too late.
The reason for the heat was that their familiar home was engulfed in flames.
Rem let go of the doorknob as she touched it, and this fact dawned on her. Her dormant sense of smell was awakened, and she sensed a burning smell. An itchy feeling ran across her forehead, and her horns began to emerge.
He immediately used his strengthened body to break down the door and run through the house engulfed in flames. He didn't know why. But his instincts told him to go outside, outside.
Destroying the weakened wall with a single kick, Rem leapt out of the house.
Even at this moment, what dominated her mind was a kind of fanaticism: 'I must get out of the house and ask my sister for instructions.'
That thought was instantly replaced by the sight he witnessed outside his house.
In the center of the village, there was a mountain of charred corpses piled high.
Houses burning, trees burned down, the familiar world transformed into a red hell overnight.
Seeing a row of familiar faces among the flames and twisted corpses, Rem immediately abandoned his thoughts and collapsed on the spot.
Shadows in black robes slowly surrounded her. The shadows' faces were hidden by their deep hoods until they got close, and even when they did see them, they were unfamiliar. However, there was no hint of friendliness in them, and a smile that didn't suit Rem was on their cheeks.
It was a face that was far too detached for a young girl to make, a face that had repeatedly bitten back the words of resignation.
Kage pays no attention to that expression, which is almost painful.
He raised his hand, and in his palm he swung the shining silver blade down towards the girl - and immediately afterwards, the shadows' heads were blown off all at once.
Fresh blood, four lives were taken at once, and the severed head was so skillfully executed that it didn't even notice it was dead, and there was no scream.
Rem was now accustomed to feeling the mana vibrations, and feeling them directly on her skin, she was certain it was her sister's doing.
The moment she noticed this, Rem stood up.
If my sister is out there somewhere, I have to follow her lead.
He didn't even have to look around to see her.
Her face, which is identical to her own, is now distorted in sadness, and she runs over to her sister and embraces her. When she confirms that Rem's body in her arms is not injured, her body relaxes in relief.
As she embraced him back, Rem savored the feeling of utter happiness and sadness.
--I don't remember much about what happened after that.
I think she left everything to her sister.
That is the best and most right thing to do, for what an elder sister does is always the most honorable of all possibilities.
However, when I came to, I found myself surrounded.
There were so many figures that they covered her entire field of vision, and as she gazed upon them blankly, Rem still firmly believed that her sister would do something about it.
The back in front of me was desperately trying to shout something.
Tears flowing, he hunches his body, desperately trying to plead for something.
Being pushed to the ground would trouble Rem, as looking down on her sister was something that should not happen in her way of life.
Standing behind her older sister, making herself smaller than her, is her reason for existence.
My sister yells, standing up and spreading her arms out in front of her.
Mana erupts. The sister's insane power unfolds, slicing everything around her like an invisible blade that ravages the world.
However, before she could run, her sister turned and hugged Rem - shock.
And then Rem saw it.
The white glow of the steel that had struck her sister on the head danced across the red air.
The folded horn spins round and round.
A horn broken off at the base, fresh blood spurting out, and someone screaming in a high-pitched voice.
I still remember clearly what I thought when I saw it.
Hearing the screams of his beloved sister who had been assaulted while shielding him and had her horn broken, and seeing the beautiful white horns he had always envied fly through the air,
--Ah, he finally gave in.
Or so I thought.
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--When Rem regained consciousness, her feet were not yet on the ground.
Someone puts strong arms around her stomach and picks her up. The way he handles her so roughly and carelessly makes it hard to believe he is even thinking about touching a woman.
That was to be expected, as the owner of the arm was currently focused on running and didn't seem to have the time or energy to worry about anything else.
"--Barus, turn right at the broken tree in front! You're too slow!"
"Don't be ridiculous... Haa, I'm going to run with all my might... I'm telling you!"
Familiar voices, and voices that I was beginning to get used to hearing, were yelling at each other nearby.
As she was violently shaken up and down, Rem shook her head to regain her hazy consciousness. Then, with her lips trembling,
"...Subaru-kun. What are you doing?"
"--! Have you woken up, Rem?"
Subaru shouted in joy as he ran, looking down at us.
Looking up at him with hollow eyes, Rem's throat involuntarily tightened at the terrible state he was in.
His forehead was split open, and blood was dripping down his face, splitting it vertically in a crimson color. White scars from the night before remained all over his body, and several new wounds had formed on top of them, piling up and oozing blood. On top of his already injured body, this was the result of him doing even more recklessly.
"... I'm glad, Rem. You really are a troublesome child."
Running alongside him, her pink hair flowing, was Ram, smiling faintly.
Her lips curved ever so slightly into a smile that only someone who knew her would notice, and she extended her hand and gently stroked Rem's blue hair.
Immediately afterwards,
"Hooray!"
The wind blade chant was performed, and the rising wind blade cut through the forest - cutting the body of the demonic beast in its path into ring slices, turning the body of the beast that was about to pounce on it into fertilizer.
Suddenly, as if dizzy, Ram's steps became unstable and she lightly bumped into Subaru's body.
Subaru: "―Yessssss!! Ram, you, hey… do you understand that my right shoulder is dislocated…!"
Subaru: "…Shut up. If Ram hadn't pushed herself too hard, the curse would have only been added to. At least enjoy being a wall that someone can lean on for a little while."
"At least on the other shoulder... ouch!!!"
Subaru screams, half crying from the intense pain.
Ram was leaning her weight onto his body, blood flowing from the ``trace of the lost horn.''
Gazing at them, Rem suddenly remembered the current situation.
Why was he in a place like this, and why was he being held in those two people's arms?
"Why..."
"ah?"
"Why didn't you just leave me alone?"
As I was being rocked back and forth, the question came out of my mouth.
As Subaru looked down at him with a puzzled expression, Rem's lips trembled in rapid succession.
"If Nee-sama and Subaru-kun are here, it will be meaningless. Rem… Rem has to do it alone… It will be enough if only Rem gets hurt…"
"Well then it's too late. Ram and I are both in tatters! At worst we might be worse than you!"
Subaru was saying things that were true and not an exaggeration. Ram seemed to have some thoughts about it, and didn't join in the conversation.
Rem felt pushed away by her sister's attitude and desperately clung to it, forming broken words.
"It's Rem's fault. Rem hesitated last night… so Rem has to take responsibility… otherwise, Rem would have to blame her sister, Subaru-kun…"
"It's pretty tough right now, can you wrap things up nicely?! If I'm distracted, the refrain from last night will be repeating all over my body…"
"Subaru, if it were true, you would have avoided being bitten--"
Even though Subaru was not in a position to hear what she was saying, it seemed the voice reached him clearly.
As he looks at her with a stiff face, Rem confesses her crimes.
During the battle in the forest last night, Rem had unleashed the demon within her and faced off against the horde of demons. At that moment, the part of her consciousness that had given in to her demonic instincts coexisted with the other half of her consciousness that remained her true self.
Although the injuries he sustained were severe, if he gave in completely to his instincts it would be difficult for him to escape.
With that judgment in mind, she only used her limited demonization. However, it exposed her immature fighting skills, and even more so, it forced her to choose to throw herself at Subaru, the person she was meant to protect.
However, what Rem really needs to apologize for is not for creating that situation.
The moment Subaru shielded Rem and had his entire body devoured by the fangs of the demonic beast―― In reality, Rem should have been able to protect Subaru.
Even though he had been pushed away, the physical strength of the 『Demonized』 Rem was no match for Subaru's. The impact had only lightly pushed him away, and he hadn't even been pushed out of reach if he had turned around and stretched his arms out.
And yet, Rem hesitated to reach out, leaving Subaru with serious injuries that left him on the brink of death.
It was all due to the strong smell of the day when everything had burned down that wafted from his person.
"Because Rem hesitated to reach out to Subaru-kun, Subaru-kun nearly died. And so, he was showered with too many curses. That's why――"
"So you were planning to settle this all by yourself to atone for your sins?"
Though breathing heavily, Subaru nodded in understanding at Rem's confession.
As if to confirm his understanding, Rem also stared at her own sins and tilted her chin back.
She was prepared to be insulted and scorned. Words that should have been showered upon her by him before they even entered the forest.
Was the reason she put it off because she felt she had to save him as soon as possible, or was it because she wasn't prepared to face her own weakness? -- it was probably the latter, Rem thought, mocking her own weak heart.
"Rem."
"yes"
When my name was called, I steeled myself and looked up.
No matter how harsh the words you are given, you have to accept them with determination.
That is the crime he committed and the punishment he deserves.
To her,
"Choppan."
"--!?"
There was a hard clang, the sound of bone hitting bone, and sparks flew across Rem's vision.
A sharp pain flashed across her vision for just a moment, and Rem clutched her forehead, not understanding what was going on. Her body, which had not yet been transformed into a demon, had the strength of a human.
The area on his forehead where he was hit will be slightly swollen and will appear red from the outside.
Looking down at Rem, who was staring blankly at the incomprehensible situation,
"First of all, are you an idiot? No, you are an idiot."
"Balus. The crack on your forehead has cracked again and is bleeding again."
"I'm an idiot too, I know! But your sister is even more of an idiot!"
After saying this to Ram who interrupted, Subaru shook his bleeding head. Seeing this, Rem realised that Subaru had headbutted her.
I don't understand what it means.
"You're stupid in a lot of ways, but there are three things you're especially stupid about. Do you know them?"
"What are you saying..."
"First of all, you idiot! You're saying you couldn't save me!"
Subaru interrupted Rem, spitting, and lifted her up, bringing her face to face with him, his black eyes wide open, so close that he could feel her breath on him.
「Open your eyes wide and take a good look. Can you see how energetic and manly I am? I may have a few white scars here and there on my body, but scars are badges of honor for a man, so it's no problem. Therefore, your feeling of guilt is wrong to begin with, you idiot!」
"But, that's why, if Rem hadn't hesitated in the first place, if she had reached out immediately, then she wouldn't have been hurt like that..."
"Yes, don't talk about things in 'what if' terms! And the second thing, you idiot! You took it all on yourself and tried to do it all by yourself!"
Forced into silence, he had no choice but to endure Subaru's abuse.
She looks to her sister for help, but Ram doesn't make a move, appearing to just watch the situation unfold.
Subaru moved his head towards Rem's face and stuck out his tongue,
"Listen, in my hometown, we have a saying that goes, 'Three women together is a swindler.' That's unrelated, but we also have a saying that goes, 'Three heads together is a wise man.'"
As he spoke, Subaru muttered softly, "What's Manjusri...?", tilted his head, and then said carelessly, "Ah, never mind!",
"Anyway, it seems that an arrow is less likely to break if three people think about it together than if one person thinks about it alone."
"This is just my imagination, but it seems like it's not the way it was meant to be used..."
「Anyway! Don't think by yourself, rely on those around you! It's not like you can't speak. Don't hold my heart like me――」
Having said that, Subaru's expression suddenly turned bitter.
Subaru naturally leaned forward and struggled to catch his breath.
"So what I just said is no good... isn't that a bit harsh?"
"What are you talking about… No, Subaru-kun. The witch's smell suddenly got really strong…"
Pinching her nose, Rem writhed at the horrible sensation her sense of smell picked up.
Right nearby, right next to her, was the loathsome stench, the thick lingering scent that had made her hesitate to reach out.
Why did that suddenly happen――
"Well, you can change your mind about that. I can change my mind too."
However, Rem's doubts were dismissed by Subaru's frank words.
Stunned, Rem looked at Subaru with her mouth agape. Her face showed no emotion beyond what she had said, and it was clear that she had seriously put the issue off.
"And the third idiot... shit, we don't have time."
Subaru looks ahead as he drives, his gaze narrowed in intense tension.
At the same time, Ram, who was running next to him, also began to deploy mana while placing her hand on her aching head.
Subaru: "Ram, in the direction of the village… No, in this case, the direction of the barrier will be fine. Which way should we run to get out?"
"Once we get past the pack in front of us, we can sprint to the left. What do you plan to do?"
In response to Ram's question, Subaru let out a long groan, "Hmm."
"How about a scenario where I push Rem towards Ram and then I run away alone, heartlessly to the other side of the barrier?"
"The witch's scent will act as a decoy to attract Urgarm, so in the meantime, we should take Rem and escape to Ram and the others. Got it."
"Stop exposing my tsundere side so easily, okay?!"
Subaru and Ram exchanged such words without slowing down their running speed.
As she overheard their conversation, Rem exclaimed in despair, "No way..."
"There's no way we can be saved... Stop, please stop. Then what's the point of Rem..."
"One more thing, you idiot, Remrin. This is the best plan to save everyone, you know? If we can somehow get through the barrier and reunite, then I have a brilliant plan to hunt down all the Urgarm, a method you don't know about. With that approach we'll have a happy ending, easy win, right?"
I don't know what this brilliant idea Subaru has prepared is. To be honest, I even wonder if it's a stopgap measure whose existence is questionable.
Because, even before that, Rem couldn't help but feel that Subaru breaking out of the encirclement on his own was an impossible task.
"You don't have to do that... Rem can just kick away those monsters..."
Rem put all her strength into her body, knowing that she couldn't let him do something so reckless.
But none of her limp limbs responded to her will. She couldn't sense any fighting spirit, and there was no part of her body that listened to what she was saying.
His fingertips were trembling. He could barely move the muscles in his face. His familiar prey was nowhere to be found in his hands.
"Rem's weapon is..."
"He dropped something that heavy! It's impossible for a student with a dislocated arm to carry you and that thing, honestly!"
And when it was clearly stated that she had no weapons, Rem finally knew despair.
Rem was helpless as her body was slowly handed over to her sister,
"Don't drop it."
"I think I'm still stronger than a one-armed Barusu."
"Then why was I carrying Rem?!"
"That's probably because Barusu refused to listen to him when he said he would carry it."
"What a serious comeback!"
Subaru covers his face with his hands, trying to pretend that what he had said never happened.
Looking up at Subaru, Rem looked at him as if she could not believe what she saw. She had said how much she had despised him, so why had she gone to such lengths?
"Subaru-kun, why are you going that far..."
"--That's right."
Subaru closed his eyes for a moment in response to the question, then held up a finger and laughed,
"She's the first date I've ever had in my life. I can't be so cold-hearted as to abandon her."
Saying this, she gently stroked Rem's hair with the hand that had been holding her up.
"Well, I guess I'll just head over. --I'm counting on you to take care of Rem, Onee-sama."
"I pray that you will be able to join us safely, Barusu as well."
Leaving this brief exchange behind, Subaru and Ram suddenly began running in different directions.
Ram to the right, Subaru to the left. The herd in front of them hesitated for a moment as to which of the scattered prey to chase - and immediately drove Subaru to the left.
"--Sister!"
"This is the time that Barusu risked his life to create. Let's make good use of it."
To her sister, who had lost her demonic powers, the physical strength supporting Rem's body was merely the strength that her body naturally possessed. Therefore, her running speed was by no means fast.
Feeling this, Rem bit her lip in frustration.
If she could just 『Demonize』 herself, she could easily protect Subaru and even carry her sister on her back and run. She could do it all.
And yet, when it comes to crucial moments, the "demon" inside him refuses to even show his face.
Ram's priorities in this situation are firmly established as "Rem > Subaru." So when Subaru presents a way to use himself as a decoy, if she judges that it will increase their survival rate even slightly, she can decide to go for it without hesitation.
While she respects her sister's decisiveness, Rem cannot help but tearfully plead with her.
Why don't they take on the challenge more boldly?
Why don't they show us more amazing things?
Rem was crying, as if entrusting all her trust to him since she was a child, in the face of such injustice.
"Subaru-kun…Subaru-kun…!"
"Don't look back, Rem. It will hurt."
These are the words of my respected older sister. Her words are always right.
Follow her and your heart will be protected, because she is always right.
--In that case, being right is worthless.
"--Big sister!!"
"--!!"
Hearing the cry that came from her heart, a shock ran across Ram's face.
Ram, her lips pursed and her eyes wide open, stopped in her tracks. Rem quickly twisted her body and escaped from her sister's arms. She fell to the ground, rolled over, and looked behind her.
A sprint that was far too slow to be called a gallop.
Subaru had black hair, was covered in scars, and was shaking his right arm with no strength in it, with a look on his face that seemed to be trying to suppress a variety of emotions.
Standing before him was Urgarm, creating a wall with his mighty body.
Its body is particularly large compared to others of its kind, perhaps making it the leader of the pack.
With that presence in front of him and countless magical beasts surrounding him from behind and to the side, Subaru continued to run furiously.
I can't reach that back. No matter how much I stretch out my fingers, no matter how much my heart trembles, I can't reach it.
But still, Rem shouted so that her voice would reach him.
I pray that the fingertips that couldn't reach you that night, the feelings that couldn't be conveyed that night, will finally reach you this time.
"--Subaru-kun!!"
I don't know if my voice was heard.
However, as if in response to that voice - all that could be seen was Subaru unsheathing his sword with a dull glow in his left hand as he ran.
The beast's roar shook the forest.
And then, as if to cover him, Subaru's throat rose up in a roar.