Prologue: Golden

"Just watch! I'll definitely protect you when I grow up!"

A vast and colorful field.

The sunrise is rising from the horizon.

"Haha, then I'll be waiting for that moment to come"

A smile even more beautiful than the blooming flowers.

The cool breeze silently brushed my cheeks.

It looked like they were…

No, I'm sure they were motivating me.

"When that time comes, be sure to always protect me."

The smile quickly turned into a slightly mocking sneer.

"Although the current you couldn't even graze me, right?"

[-Crack!]

I clicked my tongue.

"There are things better left unsaid you know?!"

"Pfft…"

The way she said that was totally mocking me! Although it's not an exaggeration that the current me can't even scratch her.

'I can even hear something like glass cracking.'

No. My motivation can't be that brittle, right?

Surely it can't break just from her words.

Yeah, I'm sure it can't… I hope.

While I was consoling myself, Maria looked to the sunrise.

"Heh, the sun rose already, let's go back to the village!"

"…Sure, we don't want Ancello to yell at us again."

Maria hopped down from the boulder and started walking quickly.

"Let's go then! I hope Ancello doesn't see us."

Golden.

A word that would fit the person called Maria.

"Look at this squirrel, it's so cute!"

Most people would say that her hair was as bright and colorful as gold.

But for me, it was because she was very dazzling.

"Hey, look at this flower! Ah, these despicable caterpillars are eating it!"

Very, very, very dazzling.

"Yeah! Don't you dare go back here again!"

Very dazzling that it scares me.

"…and so…Hey, you are listening to me, are you?"

I'm afraid that she'll leave me behind.

I'm afraid that she'll forget about me.

"…Heeeeyy…"

I'm afraid that the existence known as Arie will just pass by like a cool breeze for her, only remembered when it passes.

I want to always stand beside her.

"Maria to Arie, do you copy?"

And for that…

"…I need to be stronger."

"Huh?"

I slapped myself hard.

Maria responded with a cute shriek, but that's none of my concern for now.

Growing up doesn't cut it, I have to be strong quickly!

I firmly grasped Maria's hand that was hanging in the air.

"Arie?! W-w-what!?"

And in order to firmly engrave my dedication to her, I need to say it!

"Maria, I take back what I said earlier!"

[Just watch! I'll definitely protect you when I grow up!]

"H-huh?! Why!? Don't take it back-"

"Because I'll start protecting you from now!"

I can't beat her in swordsmanship.

"Even if I can't beat you in swordsmanship!"

I can't beat her in magic.

"Even if I can't beat you in magic!"

I can't beat her grades in school.

"Even if I'm slightly dumber at you!"

But I will…!

"I will be stronger from now on! And will always protect you!"

"A-a-a-a-"

I know that I'm saying something stupid.

Maria is a genius. What can I, an average person do to qualify even standing beside her?

'But even then…!'

Even without talent, I will definitely surpass her!

Even if my talent is lacking, I will compensate for that with hard work!

And even if hard work doesn't work, I'll forcefully create my own talent!

"I will definitely not be left behind!"

"U-u-u-u… "

I exhaled sharply.

Wow, it feels surprisingly good to let out what's in your heart.

I looked at Maria.

Right now, Maria is looking at the ground with a face as red as a tomato.

"Uh, ah…"

And now, I realized.

"Ah, …I…"

I hastily spun my body so she couldn't see my face.

'Aahh… What was I thinking!?'

So embarrassing!

"Aaargh…"

'Did I really just say those things!?'

'Did I really say something that would come out from those monkeys at the school!?'

I put my sweaty palms on my face to try and calm myself. The cries of chickens in the background helped me calm the sound of drums in my heart.

Although I said some really embarrassing things, it's not wrong to say that those are my true thoughts.

But still! I'm so embarrassed that I could die!

Anyone that looks at my face would even think that I'm burning!

"…Uu."

Just then, something firmly grasped my hands.

It was Maria's hand.

Her short fingers. Her warm breath tickles my skin. The moment those fingers wrapped around my own, I can feel the drums playing again in my head.

"M-maria."

"…Shut up!"

"Yes!"

My voice jumped up like an arrow shot to the sky.

"…"

"…I'll wait for you."

"…Huh?"

Her voice was too small for me to hear properly.

"I said I'll wait for you!"

"Ah! Uh…Yes?!"

"…I'll wait for you to be stronger, so don't leave me waiting for too long."

Her voice, although shaky, felt very warm.

Through my burning face, I let out a smile.

"Yeah, I'll be stronger in no time."

"…"

At this moment, I could feel something warm in me sprouting. It felt very comfortable, like taking a warm bath after working hard.

Just then, something hit me.

"Ugh?!"

"Agh?!"

No… It pierced me.

"Uuh…aah…w-what?"

In my chest…was a blade sticking out.

"Blargh!"

My face became hot.

Hot...

Hot.

Hot!

"Aaarghhh!"

'It hurts! Aghhhh!'

I hastily moved my shaky hands to the blade, but it won't budge no matter how hard I tried.

"A-arie…"

Maria called out to me weakly, in her chest is the very same blade in my chest.

Her face which was normally bright and spirited, was now pale like she had her blood drained. And blood is flowing freely from her mouth.

And only now did I realize… that my face is covered with her blood.

"M-maria…!"

She moved her hands to my face and glared intensely at my face as if trying to burn my face upon her soul.

"…W-we w-will meet again after this…T-trust m-me."

Both of us are going to die, and she knew it as much as I do.

Even if she has reached the threshold of a knight, a stab in the chest will still kill her.

"I-I-I… believe you."

I know that she's lying, I know that this is meaningless.

But…I have to believe.

"G-good…Arie."

Her smile bloomed again, I responded with a smile of my own.

If the smile before is even more beautiful than the flowers… Then this smile is surely as colorful as a red gem.

"I-I really wanted…t-to…see you protect me."

Our breath is getting fainter.

"Ha-haakgh…I-I-I-I wasn't able to keep…hahh…keep my promise, B-but I'll definitely keep it i-in our next life.

Our tears and snot were mixed with our blood, turning the flowers near us into roses.

"…Arie…!"

"…Maria…!"

We firmly grasp each other's hands.

O, goddess.

Your humble servant prays to you.

Even though I haven't done anything pious in this life.

Even though I didn't pray to you much in this life.

But please…

'Please let us reunite again in our next life.'

[-Thud!]

Both of us fell to the ground.

I didn't know who or what killed us, but I didn't have the time to care.

I only wish to meet Maria again.

I can feel our breath getting even fainter.

Staring into her eyes, I feel like my consciousness is falling down.

The last thing I heard was someone stepping closer and-

"…Sorry."

And everything went dark.