Re:RE - Reincarnator Executioner: Volume 1

Beside him, Nue mirrored his pose for some reason, assuming an air of authority.

"True in every age!" she echoed.

"You're so annoying." the boy snapped.

You're so cute. Those were the boy's real thoughts, quite at odds with the words he spoke. Even his hatred toward Dill was starting to diminish.

"Nue, show him how we pay our respects to the gods."

"Got it!"

Nue Kirisaki first raised the skewered meat high above her head, then took an enthusiastic bite of it with her pearly white teeth.

"Dang, that's good! I can't get enough! See? It's delicious. Won't you have some?"

"No thanks."

Nue pouted after receiving this cold rejection. Laying a hand on her shoulder, Dill stepped forward.

"Putting religion aside, you really ought to eat something. Once you've had your fill of food and drink, we'll be setting out."

The boy furrowed his pale brow, conflicted about what to do next.

Dill continued. "It's up to you whether to accompany us from this point on. However, if you ask me, this camp won't last long. In the near future, Reincarnators will probably come and kill anyone left behind."

"In that case, why not stay and face them head-on? Don't you think this is the perfect opportunity? You want to find your daughter's body, don't you?"

Hearing this, Dill smiled sardonically. This seemed to be a self-deprecating smile, rather than a derisive one at the boy's expense.

"I don't believe in fighting battles I can't win."

"Coward." As the boy looked up at Dill, his eyes were once again filled with hostility and contempt.

"Rather than challenge a hundred opponents today and perish, I choose to spend a hundred days eliminating one at a time until they're all dead." Dill met the boy's gaze calmly. "That way I can kill more of them. That's the path I've chosen, instead of the life of a tragic hero."

"Compared to the man you played onstage..." the boy began with hatred in his voice, but stopped when he was suddenly poked in the ribs. Turning around, he saw the red-eyed Nue holding a meat skewer in each hand.

"Nue, dual-wielding!"

"...Why are you looking at me so expectantly?" the boy said. "No, I said I didn't want any... I won't eat it! No, I won't say 'Ah'!"

Dill smiled wryly, then turned his back to the children and headed toward the altar.

***

The fire burned brightly. The ruined temple, overrun with moss, had been swept clean. Behind the altar stood the statue of a god-or, more accurately, a god of Redguard itself resided there.

The face of the god had been smashed and its arms had fallen away, revealing a differently colored cross section that resembled muscle fibers. A glimpse of its rusted iron frame was visible inside. Jutting out from the remains of the jaw, various cables swayed in the wind, almost resembling a dignified beard.

"Ex Machina Quiet. According to the records left in this temple, that is this god's name. It is also said to have been a regional god who governed a group of rivers, ensuring each year's harvest." The priest who had conducted the sacrificial ceremony approached Dill and told him all of this. Bandages stained with blood were visible underneath his robe.

"Are you a refugee too?"

"Yes, but I think I'll remain here. I know the cursed horde of the dead will arrive eventually, but someone has to defend the temple." The priest answered with an air of peaceful satisfaction.

Dill immediately saw that he had the look of a martyr, resigned to his death.

"The Ex Machina certainly value the temples dedicated to their worship, but I think that they value pious believers like you just as much. Especially in these times, when the Reincarnators' godlessness has begun to spread to the people of Redguard. Isn't it part of your duty as a clergyman to survive and protect the faith?"

Just as Dill expected, the priest shook his head.

"Fearing for my life, I abandoned the temple in my hometown and fled. My faith died when that temple burned down. This temple is now my last chance. I will stay here and restore my faith."

"I won't stop you, but..."

"Regardless, I am a man, fated to die. Farewell, hero of the stage. Please take care on your journey-cabals of Reincarnators are said to be hiding at every turn. May the gods provide you with ample protection."

***

Leaving the temple, an ad hoc group of performers were already starting the next play. Some of the refugees had left, only to be replaced by new arrivals. The camp surrounding the temple was only a waypoint on their journey. Any travelers with acting experience took their turn on the stage, replacing each other seamlessly like the cells of a living creature, the constant change of the cast lending new color to the impromptu company.

Dill regarded the clumsy, amateur performance out of the corners of his narrowed eyes, the way one might look at the sun.

"What are you going to do now?"

The boy wasn't quite sure what the future held, but he seemed to have decided to accompany Dill. With Nue clinging to him, vying for attention, he hid his crimson cheeks and made an effort to sound disinterested.

"We will follow the Bronze Route to the north. Our destination is Vulcan of the Eleven Cities, where the hammers ring high."

"The north... I hate cold places."

"It's only the entrance to the Boreas region, so it'll just be a little bit cooler than it is here. It's not a bad place at all-it's lively and full of people, and the standard of living is high thanks to the favor of the Ex Machina of production. It may even be a convenient place for you to think about your new life."

The boy was silent. Eyes downcast, the boy stared at Dill's feet as he walked in front of him.

He must have a lot on his mind. Losing his family, leaving the land he grew up in, having no choice but to be dragged along by strangers... thought Dill with his hand on his chin. His impulsive choice to perform on the stage had not cheered the boy up. That was understandable, though. Even though there had been no alternative, as far as the boy was concerned, Dill had murdered his father.

"Why did you save me?" the boy said, lighting the fuse of another argument.

Dill thought for a moment before answering. "Anyone would have done so," he said.

"I'm asking what your reason was."

As they had not yet experienced sin, children could be uniquely merciless in their interrogations. There was no escape.

Dill hesitated.

Uncle, watch out!

Iris, what are you doing here?

This was the millionth refrain of a very familiar scene-a moment stretched out to eternity. Viscous sweat crept down Dill's temples.

"...I don't want to see any more children die."

"Says the murderer."

After muttering this, the boy was suddenly shoved from the side, the unexpected force causing him to stumble and land embarrassingly on his behind. He opened his eyes wide and looked at Nue.

"Cut it out already!"

The girl, who had been clinging to him like a loyal hound until a moment ago, had suddenly changed her attitude. Now she was glaring at him with open hatred in her eyes.

The boy was greatly perturbed.

"Get away from Dill! Don't hang around him if you're going to hurt him. Hurry up and get out of here!"

"Now, now, Nue. I'm fine."

"You saved his life, and he hasn't even thanked you once!"

"It's fine. I wasn't looking for gratitude. A good deed is its own reward."

"Stop saying mean things to my papa! Get out of here! I don't care where you go-just leave!"

Nue's frenzy was intense. Dill, with all his strength, still struggled to restrain her.

"...I'll be going, then."

The boy started to run, and before the tears could fall from his eyes he was gone.

As Dill comforted Nue, who still looked like she might pounce at any time, he reached out in the direction of the boy's retreating back.

"Wait, come back! It's not safe!"

***

Sid darted through the crowd of people who made their way up the Bronze Route, proceeding with haste. From time to time he looked over his shoulder, but the man with rusty hair was nowhere to be seen. He could only see people with white hair like his own, typical of those who inhabited the region between central and northern Redguard.

Despite not having run very far, Sid was suddenly overcome with exhaustion. He sat down by the side of the road and hugged his knees close, sighing to himself.

How did it come to this?

Sid was starting to hate himself more and more. Dill and Nue...they had been such nice people. He was especially hurt by the fact that Nue Kirisaki, the red-eyed girl, had come to hate him. Although he probably would never have admitted it, Sid had started to fall for her.

The day that Dill had saved him, Sid had found Nue by a fountain on the road, soaking her...