(RE) Naginata in the morning

[ Mc PoV ]

Little by little as I passed through the scattered pebble of Favonius Cathedral in my way, I could see the figure of that girl more clearly than before. Along with our distance that has started to shrink, I could also hear the cries of that girl as if she's like a whiny baby with tears and snot on her face.

"Uhkk... Khuu... so Klee is not alone after all... huuu..." [Klee]

If I'm not mistaken, I think this girl is the type of girl that is cheerful, innocent, and also often shouts "Bouken da bouken." back then in the game.

'Eh? Wasn't it Bennet again?'

I don't know about what actually happened or befall onto this pyro arsonist girl, but after seeing her figure that had changed into someone who was currently in her teens, doubts and anxiety began to rose within me.

'Since she's a race with long life span, just how long has she been in here?'

Tens or maybe even hundreds of years, I think that's the time this girl has to gone through in order to grow into who she is today.

There's very rare amount of worlds containing a grown-up version of their characters, and most of them who have gone through their own salt and sugar time, have experienced many things that could make them turned into someone different from the people they once used to be.

Until now the girl is still shedding her tears, for some reason in this world where the main characters could be found in many places while doing any errands, there is no hero who can calm the loneliness and the fear in this girl.

Perhaps... my figure who got the chance to be in here could've done it and replace the hero. I can hug her to give her a sense of secureness, I can stroke her head to give her a sense of comfort, or maybe to even hold her hand to calm her down from her cries.

'But... right now I know nothing about the present. All this mess around me and every effect of these destruction, there could be some kind of curse or even binding that has been placed upon her.'

Maybe she is the last survivor in this world, maybe she is a victim of what happened in this world, but there is also a possibility that she is the mastermind behind all this destruction.

'Since this is Genshin... implementing wind elemental reaction on my hand. Restrict it to could only cause a small knockback.'

Because indeed I still hope that if all my guesses are wrong, I only prepared spells that are not too dangerous for her. There's a high possibility that my hesitation would kill me, but even so, I still couldn't let go of this naivety side in me at any cost.

'... hopefully this time my guess is another bust as well.'

Our distance was significantly closer than before, there was more or less only two meters or also about one Childe plus one carrot between us.

Her cry still resounding in my ears, and no matter how inhuman the act that I chose to follow, I could feel that divine punishment was now looming over my head after seeing this scene.

Therefore, it's time to put an end to all of this scheming and start talking to this girl.

"Hello."

Accompanied by her face that seemed filled with hope after she heard my voice, that's the beginning of our meeting in a world that has been left behind by the blessings of its creators.

The girls who still bears the name of Klee, someone who was the last living person in this monochromatic world. Together with a man who already lost too many things too remember, named ...

...

....

.....

"Oni-chaan good morning! Up to the hood in the grove~" (Klee)

More or less from our first meeting a few days had passed, and started to become weeks, and maybe almost half a month has actually passed in this world. To be honest I don't really know, we just kept on having fun without thinking about how much time had passed in the first place.

"... Klee, didn't we just traveled to Inazuma a few days ago? And stop using that phrase already..."

If I had to describe about the content after how we met... what I remember was that my legs were tingling and also cramping. Tingled from being the pillow for this girl as she fell asleep, and cramped after I'm trying to get up in the after becoming a human pillow.

At that moment, I was very grateful that Klee wasn't an enemy I had to face.

Even though Klee herself didn't know all about what's going on in this world, at least I know enough that she's just one of those characters that has been forgotten and is still capable of driving this world's "Life".

In some worlds there are also those types of characters, those who managed to avoid the destruction of their world and become the pillars of their own world's "life".

Even so, Klee's existence was still not enough to support it to returns on its former, because of that this world had lost its color.

"I can't wait~ I really want adventure on another place with you." (Klee)

"Hmm... Where are you headed right now? Snezhnaya is still not uploaded, you know."

Ah yes, actually when we met I still didn't understand the language she used. Because I really don't understand all languages ​​in different worlds, at that time we could only communicate in a very awkward and clumsy way.

But body language can always be understood by everyone, the me, who at that time had difficulty explaining of what I wanted to convey could only hug Klee to calm her down while giving her my jacket to reassure her that I wouldn't disappear when she closed her eyes from exhaustion.

If it is now, I think I can understand her words because of all the effort she has put into being able to teach me the alphabet as well as the language of this world. It seems... this language is not a language that is on earth, could it be from another planet I wonder.

"Onii-chaan~ Hurry up oniichan~"

"Ah yes yes... I'm getting up so don't hug me please. And don't you want to put my jacket off? You never let that go ever since I gave you that."

"Don't want to~ This is my first gift from you after all~ Ehehe." (Klee)

Speaking of my jacket, there're some slight difference in Klee's current appearance. Not only has her height and posture had changed, Klee has also worn a new clothes that are still similar in design to her childhood one's.

Clothes and skirt with frilly design added with some four-clover on it, cross pattern on her chest area, red baron hat that she kept on her head, boots and socks that cover up to her knees, then a mascot Dodoco as a strap on her waist.

She told me if there's a bag that she always used to brought, but back then she lost it when she tried to run from something that she vehemently chose to hid.

I guess... that being is the threat in this world, but why can't I found it even with this feather...

"Uhh Klee... please don't hug me anymore... I give up okay so let me prepare. I can't get up if you glued on me like this."

"... can't I... hold you longer? I felt like I really want to..." (Klee)

Granted, Klee in this world has matured quite a bit. Her hair has grown longer, and she's around Mona's height if I have to put aside some of the "size" that's changed as well.

However, after having to face her growing spurt in a forgotten world without her loved ones by her side, this girl has grown into a girl who needs affection.

In the beginning, she was just trying to stick with me to make sure I didn't leave and let her be alone again, but over time, Klee began to see some sides of her dearest people that she remembered inside of me.

For example, like how Jean who can be said to be her guardian back then during the day that was always strict on her whenever she brought some explosives in her bag, upto how Amber and the other members in Knights of Favonius always treat her well.

Seeing the shadows of friends, comrades and the people that she knew inside of me, Klee began to grow more attached and always tried not to leave me alone whenever the times grants it.

And I, who received all that pure affection from her, felt that whatever happened to this girl was really hard because it was even being able to make a girl with a smile as bright as this, to cry with all her heart.

"Alright... if that's the case then there'll be no more blast fishing."

"What?! No!" (Klee)

"Ahaha... now you let me got then."

The Klee in this world really liked blast fishing. According to her, Klee did all of that because she didn't want to let me feel the same loneliness that she already had, but I know because in reality she just wants to reminisce about her childhood days.

It might sound a little cruel, but I really have to be strict with this kid otherwise she'll always depend on me, and although she's still counted as a Loli in her current form, counting by human age she already passed the legal age.

Not like I have any interest in her though.

After that, Klee started to take her arms off from me although with her face that was a bit pouty because she still didn't want to agree.

Since I didn't really have much to prepare, it didn't take long before I met Klee again who was waiting for me with her face brightening again after she saw me coming out from my room.

It might be a bit late to explain, but the place Klee and I chose as our base for shelter was the headquarters of the Knights of Favonius, or at least what was left of it.

Klee has actually lived in this place for a long time since she didn't know where to go and indeed this place reminded her of the people closest to her. So it's very easy for her to found me in here whenever I got lost in track when I'm having something in my mind.

"Oniichan, over here~ Let's go to the Tavern first." (Klee)

"Following up, you can go ahead."

"WE! Are going there!" (Klee)

"... alright, stop with the hugging again."

During the few days I was here, I also started to understand some of this girl's habits. I really can't imagine her former self to be a girl as independent as she is now.

Starting in the morning, Klee would usually go out to find some fruit to harvest and also to monitor for anything strange in the forest near Mondstadt, but sometimes she also start the day right after waking up by checking for signs of life in the city.

"... there's no one." (Klee)

"Let's go to the other places."

"Uhn." (Klee)

Klee said that she had done this many times just in case one of her friends showed up too. Exploring some corners in the ruins of Mondstadt only to find traces of other human life.

Fleeting thought passed over my mind whenever I saw this act of her, to stay with her in this place and to fill the desperation and hopelessness in her heart. That thought has struck over my mind for the past few days ever since I've thought of her as my little sister.

Behind the smile that she always showed as we searched on every places, sometimes I can clearly see her disappointment at the futile results she got in her hand.

"... ehehe~ As expected Onii-chan, looks like there's no one in here today. When will everyone returns I wonder~?" (Klee)

"..."

Seeing this strong-looking side of her, I feel really disgusted by it.

I know, she's trying not to worry me. I know that she always tries to be positive so she doesn't go crazy... I also know that actually Klee had given up on finding traces of other people, long before I arrived.

I always tried to say if, "All your efforts are in vain." or "No one else is alive." in order for Klee to stop from clinging in false hope. But whenever I tried to formed that words on my mouth, I felt if that kind of "truth" is needles and unkind for her.

That's why I kept letting Klee to do everything she might regret in the end, and perhaps... the one that disgusted me till now is none other than my own very being.

...

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.....

After we finished looking at the ruins of Mondstat for the umpteenth time, the two of us then continued on our way to the bridge that connected this city to the plains, and also the bridge where numerous pigeons has been slayed by many content creator.

Klee is currently wearing a basket that she built herself and can serve as a means of transporting her goods. Inside the basket are some of her favorite bombs which she always carries with her just in case something threatens her again.

"Onii-chan, can I borrow that tools again? The one that could let out music from inside?" (Klee)

"Wait... here."

"Thank you!" (Klee)

Sometimes to pass the time during the trip, I usually wore headphones that're in my bag. The journey from here to Inazuma is quite far after all, that's why I often use this device to get rid of negative thoughts from my mind.

Of course Klee who has always had her eyes on me became interested in this thing, and now she has become happy enough to wear it while listening to the songs I've stored in my smartphone.

"First blast for this day, eiiyaa!" (Klee)

And also... that thing is very effective to cover her ears from the blasting sounds' of the bomb explosion that she threw into the river at this time.

"W-Wait! The water is- bluurhghggh!"

Ah... I should've dodge that somehow.

...

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.....

"I'm sorry! Are you sure you don't want to change your clothes?" (Klee)

"... yeah, it'll dry somehow. Where should we go next? I've made you waiting back there."

"Okay! Follow Klee's lead." (Klee)

Well... even though my clothes got a little wet from the rain of white river water earlier, at least my smartphone didn't get water in it.

For now, we're continuing our march towards somewhere with Klee as the helm. I don't know what kind of place she wants to go to, but as long as this girl is happy then I'll be fine.

'She has turned better than before.'

It was after our first meeting that both of us strolled around the Mondstadt's region with this girl on my back. If I remember correctly, Klee really didn't expect to be able to re-explore this vast area with someone beside her.

Haha, but the funniest thing for me was when she still acts like a shy maiden with whatever I want to give for her.

During that time alone, Klee had vehemently refused to wear an underwear that I "accidentally" found for her, and here I thought underwear is a very important thing for a girl in her age, yet she still refused to wore it.

'Haaahh... more than a little sister, I treated her like a daughter.'

"What're you thinking about?" (Klee)

"Ah... it's about whether I should drink a tea or a milk when there's something in my mind."

"... uhhh, I can't understand it." (Klee)

"Put that thing away from your ears then."

Not long after.

The two of us were going through the woods near Mondstadt where Klee asked me to be picked up so she could reach a flower on a tree, all the way to the beach in order to catch some crabs and fishes which were a pain to catch.

"This is your ORDER!"

"WIND BLAAADE!"

"WRRRROOOAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH!"

"Onii-chan..." (Klee)

Seeing me acting like a madman, Klee stared at me with a piercing gaze from the side while catching crabs and fish in ease... with a bomb of course.

Having too much fun exterminating these pests, I almost forgot.

It was rare for Klee to explore the beach whenever she was alone, there are a number of reasons ranging for her, but the first and most important one was about how terrifying the oceans are in this monochromatic world.

This was also the starter of why she didn't dare to explore other regions that had to be traversed by sea. Well, at least that's before I was here to accompany her. Together with me on her side, she has traversed far more than what she could even think of.

'It'll be good if this smile of hers could stay for longer.'

Seeing her smile and laugh because of small things like this, I really hope that all these moments of happiness will continue until the next day. Not only satisfaction, I also feel grateful to be able to make this girl happy in this forgotten world.

"... Ouchy, hey Klee, don't push me that hard- Huh..."

However... all those hopes vanished in an instant. As if a trap has been set upon the prey, I was late to realize if this is going to be our last day.

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.....

After I turned my body and intended to give her a clam shell that Klee could use as decoration for her bomb, I felt someone's body crashing into me from behind. I thought that at that time, she was just playing around and trying to push my body down onto the wet sand.

But what an idiot I am.

Complemented with the red color that dripped down onto the sand beneath my feet made that assumption quickly disappeared. In this world that had lost its color, where there's only black and white all over the land. The only color I've seen coming back into this canvas is the color of red.

{Kkhi... kHIi... i AlMOst gOt hIM.}

"Klee!"

The color that is bright and also thick, and at the same time, the flowing red color also gave off the smell of rusty iron into my nose. This flowing red color is none other than the warmth of this girl's life, which was slowly draining away as she leaned her body on my embrace.

I tried to close the wound with the feather I have but, why isn't it working?! The wound was still open and Klee, who was still trying to hide it, kept trying to calm me down instead of focusing to stop her bleeding. This is not the time to be calm! Don't you want to meet them again?!

"... Onii-chan, can I hug you a little bit longer?" (Klee)

"Klee, stop it! We need to heal you-"

All of this happened so fast, so fast that it made me think it was unfair of what had happened to this girl. Whereas before we were having fun at the beach and were having our fun days, but why?! Why does misfortune always come in a sudden way.

"It's fine, it's really fine." (Klee)

"What is fine?! There's something, some spell that should be able to close this wound. What is it?! Remember it!"

My mind was starting to go awry, I tried everything I could to cover up the wound on Klee's body with whatever spell I could remember, but why isn't it working either?!

"... it's warm, you body is really warm." (Klee)

Klee's body started to become cold and the flowing blood started to form a red puddle around the both of us. Soon Klee will completely drain all the warmth of life from within her body, and this is something that I cannot allow.

"The bane of- Ughh!"

As I thought, with this thing watching us from above it wouldn't turned out to be that easy.

{cAn'T lET yOU DoNe tHAt SiNCE sHe'S mY lEftoVER MEaL. iF yOU JusT tOUch wHaTEver tHEn iT'LL BeCOMe a hINdrAncE.}

As if all that wasn't enough to make this girl suffer, this creature that I really don't want to explain started using its abilities and made this girl's suffering multiplied. By using its "limbs" that contained the property of steel, that damned being done another vicious act with a single move.

The blood that had come out flowed from Klee's body, strangely started to fly like a horizontally flipped raindrops and dripping towards the creature. This made Klee even more in a painful as her blood was forcibly drawn out and made it even more difficult for her to breathe.

'... Leftover? Hindrance? This is why creatures like you!'

"Don't move, please let me be for a while. I... I'm getting cold." (Klee)

Madness and rage began to build up and demanded to be released, I focused my breath and charged my fist with whatever energy inside of me to blast that being away.

But since Klee still hasn't let go of her arms from me and kept trying to soothe my anger away, there's no way I can punch the creature with my fists in this state.

"I'm sorry, actually I wanted to tell you before we left our home, but... I really can't..." (Klee)

The girl's voice was getting hazy for me to hear compared to her previous self, therefore I brought her mouth close to my ear so I could hear her weak whispers. Her body was trembling, but Klee still tried not to let go of her embrace to be able to whisper something.

"Hey, oniichan." (Klee)

"... yes."

"... let's go to another place again, next time." (Klee)

Her blood fell onto my body, yet she continue to smile while being grateful for my assistance. Her consciousness faded, as she closed her eyes next to me in the same way we did to start the day. If this is how it's going to be, I should've let Klee to continue hugging me a little longer while she's still alive.

"..."

{nOW THeN, i sHAlL tAKE-!!!}

I'm really stupid, I shouldn't have followed Klee's wishes and kept running away from here even though it would only be against her will. We can buy time and find a way to patch up her wound so she can live a little longer.

'But that is none of her wish.'

'You will only add her suffer more.'

'You can't reverse it.'

'Focus on your enemy.'

"I know... that's why I said of how idiot I am."

Those were some of the last words that I could hear before my sight was enveloped in pitch darkness, before we reach the end of her days, and the end of my thought as well.

Ah... so this is what Subaru felt at that time. Whenever he has failed to protect Emilia and his dearest from getting killed. I... I've failed to protect her.