"Haha ...... haha ...... haha ......

　The boy was running alone in the night desert.
　Many times along the way he gets caught in the sand and falls down, but still he stands up and runs across the night desert.

　He was away from the palace he was in, away from the city, and through the desert.
　Running aimlessly. But he runs in a direction as if he knows where he's going.

Haha ......ha ...... mom ...... dad ......

　With tears in the corner of his eyes, the boy Shin mutters.
　The mother and father in his mutterings are not really his parents.
　His father is unknown, and his mother is already dead.
　And Shin is traumatized by his mother's death.

　The manticores, who are supposed to be demons, pick Shin up in the desert.
　They helped Shin live with his own mother as the manticore.
　But the manticore that had taken his place died.

　At that time, Shin remembered the trauma of losing his mother and shut himself away, preferring to die a debilitating death.
　But he was able to regain consciousness thanks to his sister and Kyou and others.
　But that doesn't erase the trauma of the detached palace where his own mother died.

　I want to run away.

　Shin was running through the desert with that one thought in mind.
　He doesn't belong in that palace. The manticore that found him was where he belonged.

　And so, as he ran through the nighttime desert, Shin saw a shadow of something.
　As Shin gets closer, the figure becomes clearer and clearer, and by the time he recognizes the shape, Shin has a smile on his face.

"...... Dad!

　It was the half of the manticore that had picked up Shin.
　He'd been watching near the city since he'd left Shin in Kyou's care.

　There's no way Shin would mistake the manticore that has raised him, so he smiles and makes his way toward the demon at once.
　But the next moment came to Shin with a shock that belied his expectations.

Stop right there. Human.

　Countless needles shoot out from the manticore's tail.
　It shoots toward Shin's feet as he is about to run up to it, and when Shin sees it, he stops in place as if he were frozen.

...... Huh?

　The events in front of you are stunned, and you open your mouth.
　However, the words from the manticore are hard for him to believe, as if to drive home the point.

"Do not come near me comfortably, human.

　These were words that she couldn't imagine from the manticore that had raised her as a father figure.
　These cold words, as if to a stranger, pierced Shin's heart.

Why ...... why ...... why, dad ......?

　As Shin, spilling tears, tried to waddle closer, the manticore's poisonous needle is released again at his feet.

I told you to stay away. I told you to stay away...any closer and you're dead. Human.

"------

　The words spoken by the being who should have been your father's replacement.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.

It's not just a matter of time before you are able to get your hands on a new pair of shoes. ...!

　But even so, Shin tried to approach the manticore in front of him, and at the moment when he walked to the point where their hands touched, he saw the manticore in front of him sighing, and when Shin saw that, he had a look of relief on his face--

I warned you about ....... Don't hate me.

　The next moment, the manticore turns its murderous face and shoots the poisonous needle from its tail at Shin's body.

......!

　Looking at the countless poisonous needles approaching from in front of him, Shin felt himself despairing, but somewhere inside, he felt a sense of relief.
　Why was he relieved for a moment when he might die from this?
　As if seeing through the question, a manticore voice arrives.

"I don't know what you're running from, but ...... it's not fair to ask me for that escape.

(...... escape ......?)

　Those words from the Manticore make Shin wonder in his mind.

　What am I running away from?
　From that detached palace?　From the trauma that happened over there?
　The people over there, from the servants and royalty?

　Looking at the poisonous needle approaching, Shin reflected on the events up to that point like a lantern.
　It's true that the place was traumatic for me.
　But it wasn't just that.
　There were also happy times there. I remember the warmth I felt with my family.
　The moment my sister wrapped herself around me, I stopped shaking, but only slightly.

　But when she accepted a duel with her brother, Masoudha, to defend her, I trembled with fear again.
　It was not the fear of being killed, but because I imagined the future when my dear family members were hurt.

(...... Oh, I see. ......)

　It's all right.
　My mother and the person who took her place are gone.
　And my only flesh and blood is going to get hurt for me.
　I'd rather end up here than have that happen.
　Somewhere in my heart, I'd rather that happen.
　Just as she realized this and was slowly closing her eyes, she heard a shout from behind her, calling out to her.

SHING!

　Before he can turn around at the voice, Shin feels someone pushing him from behind.
　As it is, you fall forward, your face hits the ground and sand enters your mouth, but you immediately look up without regard to it.

　Out of the corner of your eye, there is a girl with a face that looks exactly the same as yours.


　I was the only image of my own flesh and blood, my sister Alisha, left in this world.

...... onee-chan ......

　Shin muttered at the sight of his sister. But her voice was trembling.
　As it should be, there were countless needles stuck in her left arm from the manticore.

......

　Alisha's face contorts in pain.
　It's no wonder, then, that the needle in the manticore's tail contains a poison.
　Subjects who are exposed to it are deprived of their physical freedom, even dying after a few days.
　For Shin, who lived with the manticore, the horror was all too familiar.
　You're going to be able to get the most out of it.

...... Are you okay, Shin?　Are you hurt?

　The expression on her face was one of a smile, and Shin saw her sister's kindness in trying not to worry, when she should have been too busy with the pain of the poisonous needle.

"Don't worry ...... Shin. I'll protect you. I promise to protect you no matter what happens to you anymore.

　Then Alisha reached out and pulled her hand out and Singh nuzzled into her chest.

...... so don't shake anymore.

　Hearing those words, the body that should have been trembling all the way to the detached palace and escape here seemed to subside.

　At the same time, Alisha stood in front of him as if to protect him as Shin's body contained its trembling.

I don't know why you're attacking Shin. But I can assure you this.

　Already hit by the poisoned needle of the manticore, the left half of his body is paralyzed and cannot even move freely.
　However, Alisha still holds her sword in her right hand, grasps Shin's hand with her supposedly paralyzed left hand, and declares without fear, "I will never forgive you if you hurt my brother with even one needle!

I will never forgive you if you hurt my brother with even one needle!　This is my precious--brother!

"...... oh

　Hearing those words, Shin remembers.
　When she was with her mother, she remembered that her sister was always there beside her, holding her hand.
　She thought she was holding her sister back.
　But she didn't think that she was a liability.
　She said she was important and still holds her hand.

　She lost her mother, and she lost the person who was her mother's substitute.
　I thought I had no reason to live anymore.
　But she wasn't.
　She still holds my hand, telling me that I'm important to her.

　When she realized this, Shin cried and there was no more trembling.

............

　The manticore, who had been just watching, eventually felt something and slowly turned away.

Ah, ......

　Seeing this, Shin unknowingly reached out his hand.
　But the manticore staring back at him is still not the same as the one Shin knows, but cold, like someone he's never seen before.

...... boy. I don't know why you seek me out, but I'll tell you this. But I'll tell you this.

　So saying, the manticore grabbed Shin's hand and pointed at Alisha, who was still holding her sword as if to check herself.
　A sweat ran down her forehead and her expression had changed to that of pain, but she still stood tall.

You should not leave the side of someone who cares about you. Even if it leads to a burden, that burden is the proof of something important.

　Hearing those words, Shin drops his outstretched hand to the manticore.
　It's true that the manticore in front of you is important to Shin.
　But even more important than that is now next to you.
　When he realized that, he turned over and simply shed a tear.

　As he watched, the manticore quietly turned on its heel and disappeared into the nighttime desert.
　Shin wiped his tears away as he looked at the back of the monster that had been his father figure for years.

　And in the next moment, as soon as the tension is released, Alisha's body collapses and she loses consciousness.