Ch. 8: Budding Courage (SUN)
On that eerie night, our shouts easily went unheard.
Seeing the soldier raise its hand up high, my body moved of its own accord.
OO: "Ow…"
Leonie: "OO!? Why…did you do that!?"
OO: "…I-I’m fine…it’s just a scratch."
To save Leonie from the attack of the toy soldier, in that instant I had thrown out my body. Now, a thin stream of blood flowed from my arm.
Leonie: "You…did that for me…I’m such a coward…!"
OO: "Leonie…?"
I looked up at him as he spoke for the first time in a while, his voice low as if coming from the pit of his stomach.
Leonie: "How dare you…do that to OO…!!"
Leonie held me, and in his eyes I saw something burning within.
That light…
The thing swirling in his eyes was so beautiful that I naturally reached out my hand to him.
Leonie’s hot hand tightly grasped mine.
Leonie: "Sorry OO…I think I got what you were trying to say. So…!"
To protect me, Leonie put me behind him and stared directly at the looming group of toy soldiers.
Leonie: "Uwaaaaaaa!!"
An animalistic yell rang out around us.
Leonie: "Don’t think…I’ll let you lay your hands on OO again!"
Just as his right hand was raised high in the air, he recklessly swung down at the toy soldier that had injured me.
Toy Soldier: "…!?"
He smashed through the back of the soldier, scattering bits of junk all over the floor.
Seeing that, the remaining toy soldiers panicked and tried to flee.
However…
Leonie: "I don’t think so! I’ll protect OO…! Even if I’m not courageous, and I’m weak, I’ll protect this castle and the people of this town…without fail!!"
Leonie swiftly cut off the soldiers’ retreat and once more raised his fists.
With a one-two, Leonie swung out, and each time, a toy soldier was beaten down.
Toy Soldier: "…!?"
At that time, the last soldier, with nowhere to go, rushed at Leonie.
OO: "Leonie, behind you!"
Leonie: "Haaaaa!!"
At my voice, Leonie immediately flipped around and dealt a devastating blow to the toy soldier.
Leonie: "OO…OO!!"
Having finished off the soldiers, Leonie rushed back to me.
Even now, his eyes were wet with tears as if he was about to cry.
OO: "Leonie…"
As a reward for saving me, I hugged his small, trembling form.
It was hard to believe that Leonie’s trembling back had cut such a brave figure only a moment ago.
I’m sure he was afraid, but he was able to muster his courage…
OO: "…thank you."
Leonie: "Hc, I was so desperate…all I was thinking about was how I had to protect you no matter what OO…"
OO: "Yeah, you were courageous…and very cool."
Leonie: "Eh…I was courageous…?"
OO: "Yeah, the courage was within you all along."
Leonie: "Oh…really?"
OO: "Yeah…"
He had stopped blaming himself and fought the danger before us.
I realized he hadn’t learned it from me, but from his heart, what true courage was.
Leonie: "Thanks, it’s because of you that I had courage."
He spoke as he hugged me close.
At that time…
Just behind him, the defeated toy soldier popped and let out a plume of smoke.
Leonie: "Uwaaa!?"
OO: "I-it’s all right."
Leonie had immediately leapt back in fright and clung to me.
In his blind spot, a single piece of paper was enveloped in the smoke and fluttered down.
…? It looks like there’s something written there.
Carefully, I grabbed the scrap of paper…
[Leonie – While you’re away, I’ve left these toy soldiers to guard your castle♪ -- Oswald]
This is…a letter from Oswald? Then these toy soldiers…I think it’d be best not to tell Leonie right now…
Leonie: "W-w-w-what was that!?!"
Unaware of the letter, Leonie frantically clung to me.
OO: "It’s all right…it’s fine.
As if praising the small bit of courage that had finally blossomed within him…I continued to stroke his back, sure that it would become broader in time.