Chapter 57.5

Chapter 57.5: Epilogue 5 \nVol 3: Epilogue 5\n

** Lark **

When the boss and the other guy looked back, they saw the “young miss”ーLark poking out her head from behind the door.

Now out of her combat uniform, the shirts and trousers made of synthetic linen she donned seemed quite thin-looking, but, in fact, Lark herself has lost a lot of weight.

「Young miss! Why are you up?! You have to go back to sleep!」the boss cried.

「So noisy. I’m doing just fine.」

Beads of sweat pearled on Lark’s forehead as she walked out with a hand on the wall for support.

「I don’t see any fine in you at all. We’re so worried that our hearts are about to explode. Please just go back and rest.」

「Don’t be crazy. You guys were so cowardly, I had to take care of everything after all.」

「We should have just ignored such a big monster. You’re the one who insisted on “crushing” it. We didn’t really need to turn around the Queen of the Night.」

「Of course I can’t overlook it… If I ran away whilst having the power to defeat it, then I could never–」

Face my little brother againーLark muttered in a very low voice that the boss and the other guy couldn’t hear it.

「Young miss?」

「It’s nothing. And you guys are going to escape soon, right?」\n

「Well, of course. Now’s our chance. If we scrape up the catalysts left in the city and use it as fuel, we can cross the ocean and meet the guy called “Sage in the West”. The sage is said to be able to cure any illness. That is our only hope left.」

「…………」

「When we were at the very bottom of life, it was you who pulled us up to where the sun was shining. If there is a chance to save your life, then we don’t care if a country like this perishes.」

「I understand. You insist that it’s for my sake, right?」

「Yeah!」

The boss and the other guy nodded powerfully.

「I’m happy you feel that way. And I understand that feeling well.」

「Young miss…」

It was at the moment when the boss was feeling relieved.

「In that case, I will get off this ship.」

「Wha!? Hey, what?」

「I want to use this power to save the lives I can.」

A black shadow appears on her body and disappears as if sucked into her skin.\nLark’s skin was morbidly white.

「It can’t be helped that there would be a price to pay for mighty power. I may not even last long. But even then, I want to use this power for someone else’s sake. That’s what I have decided.」

「Young miss! Why are you so stubborn!? It’s okay to wish for your own happiness!」

「I was happy enough.」

「You can’t be happy if all you do is sacrifice yourself!」

「No, I was happy… I have an irreplaceable little brother, you see.」

「Little brother?」

It was their first time hearing it.

「I can stay as myself because of him. We two had nothing, but he was always trying to walk on the right path. I just admired that side of him. In the end, all I can do is use this cursed power to do some good.」

「Don’t say it’s a cursed power… We were saved by it.」

「Yeah… But I’m just imitating my brother. Like if it was him, he would do this, he wouldn’t do this… That is why–」

A black shadow appeared in Lark’s hand, and she clasped it.

「That guy, my precious little brother, absolutely won’t abandon this country. I’ve decided that until my last day, I will not live in a way where I won’t be able to face my brother.」

That day four years agoーat the moment when Lark was released from the contract magic at Sixth Mine, she was about to be controlled by the black emotions that sprung up.\n\nBecause of that message, she can live with pride in her heart.

Someday, when she meets her little brother again, she wants to be an amazing big sister.

(At that time, I’m sure my little brother would have also grown into an amazing person.)

Just imagining the day of their reunion shines a small ray of light in her heart and makes her feel warm.

「What are you guys going to do? You can escape if you want.」

「We can’t do that. Our fates are linked to you.」

「I thought you would say that.」Lark said.「Return “Queen of the Night” to the Levs. And I will head to the front line.」

「Young miss!?」

「Don’t worry, I won’t let you guys be charged guilty. Once they know my abilities, they wouldn’t be able to say anything, after all.」

「You’re serious… aren’t you? To go back and fight?」

「Super serious. Wouldn’t it be way cooler that we, who are generally called “sky pirates”, participate in a battle to protect an entire country?」Lark said, grinning.

The boss looked up at the heavens and put his hand on his forehead, and the other subordinate just turned pale.

The next day–the beautiful streamlined silver airship “Queen of the Night” passed over the Lev Magic Empire while reflecting the sunlight, and appeared near the checking point.

The state-of-the-art airship, which had been stolen, was returned to the country in a way that was not expected by anyone.