No matter what, the end will always come.
It will come for the painful struggle of the day-to-day, and for the meager happiness that is held so dearly…
Even when you are sunk into the depths of despair, the end will come.
Man’s Voice: “D-don’t come any closer! [—-] !”
Woman’s Voice: “Please, save them… just save this child’s life…!”
Things are all lost eventually, and that is why the world is so beautiful…-.
??: “…”
In the corner of a decrepit and abandoned castle, a young boy opens his eyes.
??: “…such a nostalgic dream. You got mad and said ‘Hurry and wake up’ Ruber.”
The empty room was completely silent, and other than the boy, there was not a single other soul.
However, the boy continued to talk to himself, as if he were with a close friend…
??: “Don’t worry, soon. The Princess of Traumere… I wonder what kind of girl she is?”
He laughed in delight, causing the ring worn over his breast to flicker…-.
…
……
In an area slightly separated from the rest, the glorious sound of string instruments could be heard…-.
I had been invited to attend a party, but having become affected by the heat of the crowd, I quietly walked out onto the balcony for a break.
(The night wind feels so good…)
??: “Good evening. Nice night.”
OO: “!”
I looked towards the voice, and somehow without my notice, a young boy was now standing beside me.
He wore a robe with straps of leather and carried a large sickle. Putting those two things together, he seemed like the Grim Reaper, stepped right out of a story…
OO: “Who are you…?”
??: “Oops, don’t be afraid. I’m Nox. Don’t worry, I promise this sickle won’t hurt you.”
Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, the tension slowly eased from my body.
OO: “I’m sorry, I didn’t think anyone was out here, so you startled me…”
Nox: “Hehe, your look of surprise was pretty cute.”
Nox grinned at me.
He had such a delicate frame and a beautiful face, like that of a doll, and in an instant we were suddenly talking like old friends.
Nox: “By the way, could you hold out your hand for a second?”
OO: “…? Okay.”
As if caught up in the ease of the conversation, I held out my hand…
He gently placed something small in the palm of my hand.
(This is a royal ring…!?)
Nox: “I’m giving you this, so you can wake him up. You’re the only one I can ask, OO.”
I looked up from the ring, aware that he’d called me by name even though I hadn’t told it to him.
But Nox had already disappeared.
(He’s gone…? I’m curious about this Nox person…but first I have to wake whoever is in this ring.)
I took the ring he had left me, put my hands together, and prayed.
A bright light engulfed the area and…-.
??: “…”
I stood frozen with my hands together as I looked at the person who had appeared in front of me.
(A black mask…?)
I couldn’t read his expression or see his features as his entire face was covered with a strange mask.
He said nothing, looking around and taking in his surroundings with slight movements of his head…
??: “…I see. Guess he ran off first. Hey, you, pale girl.”
OO: “…”
I could feel his sharp gaze on me from behind the mask, and my body froze in fear.
However…-.
??: “Hurry back inside. The cold will make you sick.”
He turned his back to me and spoke over his shoulder, then gripped the balcony railing and easily jumped up onto it.
We were so high up that I knew if he were to fall off, he wouldn’t escape injury. My skin broke out in goosebumps.
OO: “That’s dangerous…!”
??: “…”
As he stood on the dangerously thin railing, he turned to look back at me through his mask.
??: “I’m in a hurry. Sorry, but it’ll cause a problem if I’m found by the guards.”
OO: “I’ll explain things to everyone if that happens…!”
Forgetting my fear from earlier, I fervently made an appeal to his reason to get him off the railing…-.
??: “…Ruber.”
OO: “Eh?”
Ruber: “My name. Don’t forget it. I swear, eventually I’ll pay you back.”
His declaration came out fast, and then he was throwing himself off the balcony into the night sky.
OO: “…!”
I flew to the railing and looked down at the ground.
My eyes strained in the darkness, but I saw Ruber, moving with the grace of a deer as he made his way down the roof…
(…wow.)
I let out the breath I had been holding, and the music from the other room came back to me.
(I wonder who on earth those two were.)
At that time, I had no idea.
I didn’t know their desires, or the situation they were involved in…
Not long after that meeting, many other people would get caught up in it as well. It was just the beginning of a long story…
Nox and Raven
Country of Evening Clam, Revelta…-.
Raven: “Claude. Don’t go too far.”
Claudius: “’Kaay!”
Raven quietly watched over his little brother running around the flower field.
Nox: “He’s so cute. Does he like going out with his big brother?”
Raven: “Nox…you haven’t changed, suddenly appearing out of nowhere.”
Nox: “Sorry if I scared you. You’re looking a little better than when we first met, a little brighter.”
Raven: “…that’s what you see?”
Nox: “Yup. At the very least, different from when you had wanted to settle in my country.”
Raven: “…wouldn’t it be more apt to say I was being a bother at that time?”
Nox: “I never thought you were a bother. My country takes in anyone. Because at the end, everyone comes as equals.”
Raven: “…”
Claudius: “Brother! Look at this, I filled up the whole flower basket!”
Nox: “…and that’s that. Go on, you should go see.”
Raven: “What will you do?”
Nox: “I was just stopping by, so I need to be going.”
Raven: “I see. Then could I ask you one question before you go?”
Nox: “What’s that?”
Raven: “You can see the souls of the dead, can’t you?”
Nox: “…”
Nox’s lips twitched as if he was about to smile.
But then…
Claudius: “Wha, that wind’s strong…!”
Raven: “Claude…”
Claudius: “Big Brother, are you okay? Did you get hurt…?”
Raven: “No, I’m alright. Just…I was just thinking how unfortunate it is that my question got dodged.”
He turned to where the young man had been standing a moment before.
But the only thing there were pure white flowers, dancing in the wind.
Nox and Will
Country of Film, Kenal…-.
Spider webs hung from the ceiling of the dimly lit corridor, which echoed with the sound of a jaunty footsteps.
Will: “Good good, the details are all okay♪We’ve secured the service entrance already, now all that’s left is… hey, you!”
Nox: “…? Were you calling for me?”
Will: “That’s right. You with that spaced-out expression that says ‘why are you calling me~?’ We don’t have any plans to start shooting on this set today, so what are you doing? An extra who got the date wrong maybe…though you sure are giving it your all with that getup.”
Nox: “Set? Ekstra…?”
Will: “Well, whatever. Can you just stand in front of that door so I can get a look at you?”
Nox: “Sure. Around here?”
Will: “A little to the right…yeah, stop right there. Hmmm? I didn’t think pretty boys would look good on a horror set but that’s not bad…”
Nox: “Hey, what are you doing with your fingers together in a square like that?”
Will: “It’s in place of a camera. Ah, can you just raise that scythe over your head? And give me your best creepy smile.”
Nox: “Hehe… you’re an interesting person.”
Will: “Ah, just like that! Just stay like that and…-“
Staff Member: “Director Will! It’s almost time for the interview.”
Will: “Eeh, and here I was just bursting with the urge to create something. Oh well. You, can you give me your name and contact info…huh?”
The young man had disappeared the moment Will turned away.
Will: “Could this be…what it’s like to meet the real thing?”
Whether or not this encounter inspired Will Beaton’s new horror film is a story for another time.
Nox and Clown
A calm atmosphere filled a certain street corner…-.
The delighted voices of children were soaked up by the bright red sky.
Clown: “And now we must bring the show to a close. As thanks from this clown to all of you, who have shown me such wonderful smiles, a gift!”
Young Girl: “Wha! Cute balloon!”
Young Boy: “Thank you Mr. Clown!”
Clown: “And thank YOU. Be careful on your way home.”
Nox: “Aw, it’s over already?”
Clown: “Yes. But thank you for that marvelous round of applause Traveler.”
Nox: “Hehe, it was very interesting. Pulling a dove from that hat, and making the cards walk. But how did you know I was traveling?”
Clown: “I don’t have any concrete proof. But you just have the look of a traveler about you, and I know that look. I was one too, before. I was on a journey to complete my training and gather 100 smiles.”
Nox: “Whoa, that’s amazing.”
Clown: “If you don’t mind my asking, why are you traveling?”
Nox: “Hmm…I guess, I’m looking for something? I don’t know if it exists, but if it does, I want to find it.”
Clown: “That…sounds like a very tiring journey.”
Nox: “Not at all. After all, sometimes I get to have wonderful meetings like now.”
Saying so with a smile, the young man’s robe flapped in the air as he went to leave.
Clown: “He was smiling, but it wasn’t a smile from the heart. …I guess I haven’t trained enough.”
With a small shrug, Clown watched the figure as he faded into the distance.
Ruber and Superbia
Country of Sinners, Votalia…-.
In order to provide a medical examination for a prisoner who was feeling unwell, Superbia had called on Ruber.
Ruber: “It’s just an aggravated cold. They’ll be back to normal with some medicine and rest.”
Superbia: “I see. Thanks for coming to help. There really aren’t any other skilled doctors who would treat prisoners indiscriminately.”
Ruber: “A patient is a patient, no matter what. If it’s asked of me, I’ll go anywhere. …but this kingdom’s prisoners are so unreasonable. They spit out any medicine, and they have a hatred of injections.”
Superbia: “Sorry about that. It seems I’ve caused you some trouble. But for some reason after they receive your treatment, the patients always end up trembling in fear… what on earth are you doing to them?”
Ruber: “Just my duty as a doctor.”
Superbia: “I would appreciate if you didn’t take that ‘duty’ too far but… well, it’s alright. I trust you to handle things your way.”
Ruber: “Is that prisoner the only one who needed an exam? If so, I’ll take my leave.”
Superbia: “Already? You’re always one to rush off, but do you have something to do?”
Ruber: “I’m looking for someone. A man in an ash-colored robe carrying a large scythe. If you see him in this country, let me know.”
Superbia: “A large scythe… sounds like a dangerous getup. A friend of yours?”
Ruber: “…a friend? I wonder. That depends on him.”
Superbia: “That’s awful vague isn’t it? Is there a reason you have such a complicated relationship?”
Superbia knit his brow in puzzlement, but Ruber didn’t answer…
The white hem of his coat fluttered in the air as he walked away down the gloomy hallway.
Ruber and Nayuta
Country of Hot Springs, Kaiten…-.
With written permission inviting him to enter the country, Ruber went to speak to Nayuta.
Ruber: “…I don’t remember asking for a hot spring cure.”
Nayuta: “Now now, don’t look so surly. I’m the kind of honest man who, when sending an invitation, shows up with the proper gift.”
Ruber: “And I don’t remember being the kind of person who would carelessly disregard an invitation from an acquaintance. Do you have a job for me?”
Nayuta: “No, I don’t really have any work to ask of you. It should be obvious why I invited you to Kaiten though right? As a doctor who travels all around the world, I want you to take some time to recover yourself.”
Ruber: “Recover…?”
Nayuta: “Yes. Fatigue is the source of many diseases after all. It would be a funny story if the doctor was one to neglect his own health.”
Ruber: “You don’t need to worry; I intend to get the rest I need when I need it.”
Nayuta: “And since that’s not enough, I sent you an invitation to come here. And now setting that aside… since you’re already here, there’s the matter of the fee for using the hot springs.”
Ruber: “That was a pretty pushy change of topic.”
Nayuta: “Not really, I don’t intend to charge you something unreasonable. You travel around answering the call of patients, right? Doing that you must hear things, so I simply ask that you tell me an interesting story.”
Ruber: “I have no obligation to kill time with you, or at least that’s what I’d like to say… but I can’t exactly leave this country without your permission.”
With a mixed sigh, Ruber sat on the floor cushion opposite Nayuta.
Ruber: “I don’t mind telling you a story from my travels, but I don’t know if it’ll be interesting.”
Nayuta: “That’s true. I’ll just have to be the one to decide if it’s interesting or not.”
Ruber: “…”
Indignant, Ruber didn’t so much as flinch while Nayuta’s tail swayed in anticipation.
In the castle of Kaiten, the smell of sulfur was carried in on the wind, and for a while the voices of two people talking echoed down the halls.
Ruber and Raith
Country of Poison, Telsot…-.
Raith: “The sun sure feels nice today.”
Raith sat beneath a tree, smiling as the sunlight filtered through the leaves and he took out his favorite violin.
Without delay, he laid the bow to the violin, ready to play out an improvised tune when…
Ruber: “…”
He caught sight of Ruber, starring at the flowers beneath his feet.
Raith: “You should be careful. The nectar of those flowers is poisonous.”
Raith called out the warning immediately, and Ruber slowly turned towards him.
Ruber: “I know. But the stem and leaves can also be used to make medicine that stop pain.”
Raith: “Heh, you’re pretty well-informed.”
Ruber: “It’s necessary information for someone in my line of work.”
Raith: “Your work…?”
Ruber: “I’m a doctor. I travel to various places, treating people. By the way, isn’t this Morfan?”
Raith: “Eh? No, you’re in Telsot.”
Ruber: “…Telsot?”
Raith: “Yeah. We’re actually pretty far from Morfan… did you get lost?”
Ruber: “I thought I was following the path on the map.”
Raith: “Really? Can I take a look? …hmmm, the map looks right. I wonder if you took a wrong turn at this crossroad a ways back.”
Ruber: “I see, that must be what happened. I’ll just go back to the crossroad and go the right way this time.”
Raith: “Um, you could do that, but…-“
Ruber: “Thanks for showing me the way.”
Ruber briskly turned on his heal and went back the way he had come.
Raith: “He’s gone… but there’s a closer path over here. I hope he gets to Morfan okay…-“
Raith anxiously watched after Ruber who was quickly moving away.
This is the story of before you met Nox and Ruber…-.
The clear moonlight pushed through the thick foliage of the forest…-.
Ruber: “…”
Nox: “Hey… are you alright?”
Below the base of a cliff, Ruber was unconscious and Nox continued to poke at his shoulder with the handle of his scythe.
Ruber: “Ugh…”
Nox: “Ah good. You’re awake.”
Ruber: “Who’re you? Ah, better question, where is this…?”
Nox: “Where… is it possible you’re confused because you fell from the top of the cliff?”
Ruber mumbled in his addled state and Nox gave a troubled smile.
Nox: “Um, well, from what I saw… first off you were attacked by some thugs and fought them, then in the commotion a bunch of beasts were disturbed and came running towards you and you fought them off… then after defeating a bunch of them, you lost your footing and fell.”
Ruber: “…that’s enough, I remember. That’s it exactly. Which means you saw the whole thing?”
Nox: “Yup. I just kind of didn’t want to get pulled in so I kept my distance.”
Ruber: “…”
Nox: “Well, you just looked totally calm out there by yourself. If I’d tried to push my way through, I’d have just gotten in your way.”
Ruber: “Really? Guess that huge scythe is just for show then.”
The sarcasm was clear in his voice as Ruber slowly started to get up.
Nox: “Hehe, you’re pretty harsh. By the way… there’s something I want to ask you.”
Nox rested his back against the root of a nearby tree and the corners of his mouth lifted.
Nox: “Earlier, why didn’t you leave the thieves to the mercy of the animals?”
Ruber: “…”
Nox: “You called attention to yourself so the clan of thieves wouldn’t get attacked right? Thanks to that it looks like they got away safely but… you helped them even though you got hurt. Are you just an excessively good person?”
Ruber: “…we just met and you’re being awful brazen with me.”
Ruber squinted his eyes and took a short breath, then pulled at the stethoscope around his neck.
Ruber: “I’m a doctor. They may have been thieves, but it goes against my code to get people injured. That, and I was the one who punished them.”
Nox: “Hmmm… are you hurt from falling from the cliff?”
Ruber: “I can take care of my own injuries.”
Nox: “I kind of figured. You’re a pretty weird guy.”
Ruber: “You’re weirder.”
Nox: “Me?”
Ruber: “I don’t have a lot to go on, but you’re here in the middle of the night, so what exactly are you doing? You said you didn’t want to get pulled into my thing, so why did you go to the trouble of talking to me?”
Nox: “…hehe…I wonder. I don’t know myself. I’m Nox.”
Ruber: “Huh?”
Nox: “My name. It’s Nox. I want to know your name too. Tell me.”
The mysteriously smiling Nox had eyes that shone like glass spheres full of curiosity…-.
After that, some time passed…-.
Nox: “Hey Ruber. We meet again. Back from a house call? Just as serious about your work as ever.”
Everywhere Ruber went around the world as he traveled to treat patients, Nox was there.
Ruber: “…I can’t relax when I feel like you’re haunting me.”
Nox: “You’ll give me a bad reputation. I’m traveling too, you know?”
Ruber: “Traveling…? Why?”
Nox: “I’m looking for something important. I don’t know if I’ll ever find it, but I don’t want to give up yet…-“
Nox’s explanation was vague and ambiguous and Ruber’s gaze was only slightly concerned.
Ruber: “…is there anything I can do to help you find this thing or whatever you’re searching for?”
Nox: “Eh?”
Ruber: “What? What’s with the stupid face?”
Nox: “Because… you just said something as if we were friends.”
Ruber: “If it was out of line, forget it.”
Nox: “No, it made me happy. But unfortunately I can’t accept your help. This is a problem for me and my kingdom.”
As the two of them stood a small distance apart, a cold wind blew between them…-.
Even after that, Nox would continue to return to Ruber…-.
Several years passed after that first meeting, and it was on one particular day…
Nox showed up at the temporary clinic where Ruber was staying in a certain village.
Nox: “Hey, Ruber. What’s this for?”
Ruber: “You don’t even know what a scalpel is? It’s a medical tool for surgery.”
Nox: “Heh, it’s got an interesting shape. I wonder which cuts better, this or my scythe.”
Ruber: “I’ve wondered about this for a while now, but why on earth do you carry around that unnecessarily large scythe?”
Nox: “Ah, curious? This scythe has a long story attached to it and…-“
Ruber: “…never mind. I get you don’t want to give me a serious answer.”
Letting out a deep sigh, Ruber used a practiced hand to finish putting away his medical equipment.
Nox: “I know I’ve said it before, but doctors are amazing. They save and preserve people’s lives and all.”
Ruber: “We don’t just save lives.”
Nox: “Still, I really think you’re amazing. …you’re the exact opposite of me.”
As Nox spoke, his words were barely a murmur that Ruber couldn’t hear…
Someone timidly knocked on the clinic door.
Ruber: “What? Is it an emergency?”
Village Head: “No… I haven’t brought a patient with me today.”
Ruber went out to meet the man who had come to see him. The village leader was looking up at him with unease.
Village Head: “The truth is… I’ve heard some bad rumors about that man with the white hair that visits you.”
Ruber: “White hair… you mean Nox?”
Village Head: “Yes. It’s said when he appears, calamity or disaster… anyway, something terrible happens. That coupled with his outfit has people suspecting he’s a Grim Reaper.”
Ruber: “…”
Village Head: “Everyone is afraid. Of Grim Reapers and of you who spends time with one…-“
Ruber: “So you’re kicking me out by tomorrow then.”
Village Head: “…the faster I can tell people, the better. I’m sorry… we wanted things to work out.”
The village leader bowed his head in apology then left for his own home.”
Ruber: “… Grim Reaper huh. Ridiculous.”
Ruber grimaced in frustration and went back into the clinic…
Ruber: “Nox…?”
Nox, who had just a moment ago been inside, had disappeared completely without a trace.
…
……
On a thin trail on the outskirts of the village, Nox walked alone.
Nox: “Grim Reaper… I should be used to being called that by now.”
He gave a self-deprecating smile as his gaze fell to his hands.
In his grip was the scalpel Ruber had taken out.
Nox: “I guess our positions are just too different, I who protect the sleep of the dead, and you who fight for the sake of the living. …it was ridiculous of me to hope we could be friends.”
Nox quickened his pace as if to shake off the sound coming from behind him, that of Ruber calling out and searching for him.
Alone but for his shadow, Nox disappeared into the depths of the forest.
END
