Volume 8 Chapter 18 Goodbye, Kaya
Elk and the others left the town and headed east with Yato as their guide.
They were going away from the port. They arrived at an abandoned village where no one lived anymore.
Yato looked at the desolate village from the entrance and said,
"This is Kaya's hometown."
"...Is this the place?"
"Yes. Kaya's village was a village of outlaws. It was destroyed during a purge... Kaya entered an assassin training school on her own and became part of the Oniwabans group (Protectors of the Noble House)."
"Is that so..."
The wind blew, and Elk, Yato, and Sophia's hair swayed.
Sophia spoke to Yato.
"We're burying Ms. Kaya here, right?"
"Yes. Even though it was a village of outlaws, Kaya was born here. Let's let her rest under the soil of her hometown."
"That's true..."
On the edge of the village, there was a graveyard.
Weeds were growing wild and it was in disarray.
Elk placed both hands on the ground and moved his fingers delicately... the weeds pulled out, floated in the air, and gathered in one spot.
At the same time, Sophia cut down and processed the surrounding trees. Elk used Telekinesis to drive them into the ground, creating a fence around the area. There was a huge rock on the outskirts of the village, which he lifted and moved with Telekinesis.
Sophia quickly cut the rock and turned it into a gravestone.
They dug a deep hole in the ground and buried Kaya's body, wrapped in a blanket.
Then, they placed the gravestone, added flowers, and included some dumplings from the item box.
"......"
"......"
"......I'm waiting at the entrance."
Sophia left the graveyard early.
She probably didn't want to show her tears. Yato and Elk fell silent, staring at the gravestone.
Then, Elk spoke.
"Kaya... I protected Yato. I kept my promise to my classmate... my dorm mate... my friend."
"......"
"It was a short time, but I'm glad I met you. Thank you."
Elk placed his hand on his chest and offered a silent prayer.
After a moment of silence, Yato spoke.
"Kaya, I'm glad I met you."
"......"
"You said you wanted to be my servant, but... I didn't think that way. I was happy to have a friend from Yamato."
"......"
"Thank you, Kaya. Please... rest in peace."
When Elk looked at Yato... Yato was quietly shedding tears.
Yato looked at Elk and gently wiped her tears. But Elk softly embraced Yato's shoulder.
"...Ugh."
"......"
Yato buried her face in Elk's shoulder, trembling.
Then, Elk─── directed his right hand toward a nearby bush and clenched his open hand tightly.
"Huh!?"
A crushing sound echoed as if a heart was being squeezed.
From the bush rolled out a man dressed in assassin clothing, destroyed by the internal damage from 'Break Heart.'
Elk gently covered Yato's ears with Telekinesis as she cried.
At the same time, more than ten Samurai and assassins emerged from the bush.
"Sorry, but you're going to die... If you leave the country like this, the name of the Samurai will be ruined."
"..."
The strongest Samurai of Yamato. The strongest assassin.
(Seven Blades) and (Seven Shinobi) ...They probably came at Byakuya's command.
Elk muttered just one word.
"───'The end'."
A wave of (nen) spread out radially from Elk.
Elk's Telekinesis acted on any living being that touched the (nen). It crushed and twisted their bodies. Bones cracked, flesh squished, and blood sprayed everywhere. It wasn't just humans. Birds, small animals, and insects were affected too.
An indiscriminate death unleashed from Elk.
One of the techniques named by Pipina. An unavoidable, indiscriminate attack.
Its name was 'The End'.
"Please... be quiet now."
Elk whispered this, unable to introduce himself or use his ability. He lifted the bodies of the strongest Samurai and Assassins from Yamato with his Telekinesis, gathering them in one place and sending them off to a remote mountain area.
Then, Yato, who had stopped crying, lifted her face... her blocked ears could hear again.
"...I'm sorry. Thank you for your shoulder."
"Ah."
"Yeah. I'm okay now... let's go."
"Ah."
Yato started walking and left the graveyard.
Elk also began to walk... he stopped in front of the graveyard and turned back.
He whispered softly towards Kaya's grave.
"I'll come again. I'll bring the dumplings you liked... see you."
Waving lightly, Elk left the graveyard.
* * *
After returning to the port, they entered the inn.
They would set sail tomorrow. Tomorrow... they would head back to the Galatinne Kingdom.
There were 4 of them on the way there, but only 3 on the way back. Captain Eivor looked at the 3 of them and seemed about to ask where Kaya was, but after seeing their expressions, he sensed something and said nothing.
At the inn, Yato spoke.
"I want everyone to keep Kaya's death a secret."
"...Ms. Yato."
"Miss Sophia, here."
"What is this..."
Yato handed a letter to Sophia.
After checking it, Sophia was surprised.
"...A withdrawal notice?"
"Yes. From the moment Kaya decided to head to Yamato, she was prepared. She wanted to submit a withdrawal notice if she died. The reason was to say she quit to take over the family business."
"..."
In the reason for withdrawal section, it was written, "To take over the family business."
Sophia gently wiped her eyes.
"She probably didn't want to worry her friends at the academy."
"Kaya was originally training to become an assassin. But... she couldn't be ruthless in the underworld, so it seems she chose the path of the Oniwabans group (Protectors of the Noble House) instead."
"That sounds like Kaya."
"And... Elk, this is for you."
"...Huh?"
What Yato handed over was a small box.
When he opened the box, there was a letter and 2 blades inside.
"It's a farewell gift. It seems she wanted to give it to you."
"......"
He opened the letter and read it.
"...'To Blade. Perfect for you who uses foot techniques. I won't use them, so I'm giving them to you. And... if you're an assassin, try not to stand out too much. From your meddlesome classmate'."
To Blade.
It was a special blade for assassins that could be hidden in boots. One of the hidden weapons that could spring out from the toes.
It was the last gift from Kaya.
Elk covered his face and quietly shed tears.
It finally hit him... Kaya was gone.
Kaya had died.
"...I said I'm not an assassin, okay?"
"......"
Yato also cried, and Sophia covered her mouth.
And so, the battle in Yamato country came to an end.
The 'Fire Gem' was already in the hands of Adrazione.
Elk had settled things with his brother Rosho and lost his friend Kaya.
Still, the fight against 'Devoted to the Goddess (Adrazione)' was not over.
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