[Hunter] Flowers and Hymns

The gorgeous Gothic church groaned in the violence, trembled in the gunpowder smoke, swayed as if it was about to collapse, and let out a mournful cry of collapse.This cathedral, which lasted for more than 600 years, has witnessed the emperor being headed by the people, the dictator wearing a red crown here, and the coming and going of countless emperors.Neither time nor war had destroyed it, but at this moment, it was shattered under the wrath of a woman.

The sacred stained window has already been shattered all over the place, and the twilight skylight spilled from the gap, shining on the cracked ground, and also shining on the furious storm of thought power.In the center of the storm, there was a person standing, precariously standing.The sky light kept sliding down her blood-soaked gown, and rolled down the skirt with a trickle of bright red, merging into the pool of blood at her feet.

There is so much blood on a person's body, rolling out from every pore, and as the mental storm is further strengthened, the blood flows more and more violently.It was as if an invisible hand was tearing her apart.

But Veronica was still standing.Holding the cross in front of his chest tightly, he squeezed out the power of thought from every cell in his body, and attacked the enemy recklessly.

Has the attack arrived?

Maybe.

Veronica's vision blurred by blood could no longer see clearly.However, she still gritted her teeth and insisted on this kind of attack - tearing herself to pieces, throwing every drop of blood and every bone towards the enemy.

Does it hurt?

It hurts.

It's just that the pain has reached this level, and the crying that lingers in my ears has gone away.Since the day Cosette died, her cries have been repeated in Veronica's ears day and night.She is constantly reminded of what was taken from her.

What is taken away must be taken back with one's own hands.

But life is something that is lost and never comes back.

——Even if you succeed in revenge, the dead will not come back.

——It is because the dead will not come back, so revenge is necessary.

justice?justice?

Revenge is not such a tender and positive thing.If you go back to the essence, revenge is the complete opposite of these two things.

—Revenge is injustice.

Nothing can be gained from revenge.Even if Kuroro Rushiru died in front of her, Veronica couldn't get any pleasure from his death.Even if there is a moment of joy, it will only usher in a greater emptiness after the joy.Cosette will not come to life, and what is lost is lost forever.

A burst of severe pain exploded in Veronica's body, she couldn't bear it anymore, bent down, and vomited a big mouthful of blood.She looks very ugly now, her seven orifices are bleeding, her long hair is sticky and dirty, her whole body is covered with blood, and the blood-soaked dress sticks to her body... Inhuman shape, unsightly.

——What exactly did Veronica lose in order to avenge Chrollo Rusil, and to get to where she is today?

She used to have plump cheeks with a thin and shiny pink, as beautiful as a blooming rose.However, with the development of the mind ability, the internal organs are worn out day by day, and the vitality and beauty are finally worn away, leaving only pale wreckage.

Her steps were once lighter than a young deer in the forest, and she walked with a grace that even the most famous poets could not describe.But now, painful thorns protrude from every part of her bones, not to mention walking as lightly as before, or even standing, exhausting all her willpower.

She used to be such a gentle person, as long as Cosette didn't want her, she wouldn't even break a single flower.But now, she was able to design to involve innocent people in this vortex of revenge, and watched their deaths with cold eyes, as if all the soft places in her heart had been gouged out by the sharp knife of hatred.

She has lost so much, but she can't get anything back.

But it doesn't matter anymore.Revenge is a loss-making business that does not give living people anything in return.Veronica has already put everything she has on the scale, so she doesn't care about adding a little bit more.

——For example, my own life.

The light of the knife suddenly approached her eyelids, Veronica raised her eyes, and met Nobunaga's ferocious smile—it turned out that he took advantage of the moment when she ignored the attack due to the severe pain, and forced Coming in front of her, he was about to cut her under the knife——

For a split second, Veronica smiled very briefly.

That laugh was as short as a hallucination.Before it takes shape, it dissipates.So no one noticed except Nobunaga in front of her.

Nobunaga was suddenly startled.

Long-term experience on the front line of life and death told him that something was wrong.

So his blade couldn't help but lag for a moment.

At this moment, the ceiling of the church burst open!

Silver-white thunder and lightning crashed down from a height, forcing Nobunaga to leap back a few times to avoid the blow of the thunder.After the dust and gravel caused by the lightning dissipated, the silver-haired boy lay between the two of them. Behind him, the big black-haired boy grabbed Veronica, who had become a bloody man.

Qi Ya beat the enemy.

Jay Freeze.

At that moment, Veronica heard the mocking sound of fate on high.Something was shattering, something was waking up, the woman who couldn't shed a single tear even when she was being torn apart, let the horror in her heart surface on her face for the first time.

"...You guys, why are you here?"

What was crushed was himself as a tool of revenge.

What woke up was the heart of a woman named Veronica.

Veronica has a sense of dislocation that borders on the ridiculous.It was the pain of the "self" buried deep in the magma of hatred, being forcibly pulled out of the ground by the claws of reality. In order to numb this pain, the body automatically isolated her perspective, and she seemed to float into the air, with A detached vision overlooking this absurd reality.

"Why are you here?"

For some reason, Veronica's voice was trembling.It wasn't just her voice that was trembling, it was her body as well.Even the self floating in the air, everything in his eyes began to shake.

Shaking, and little by little, tiny cracks burst open.

——Don’t want to, get them involved.

Even at the beginning, before boarding the train, she approached the two teenagers with ulterior motives.However, after getting along for a long time, she has changed her mind.The plan that was supposed to be foolproof was transferred to Plan B by her.

They have nothing to do with her hatred, nor do they hate the Phantom Troupe themselves.

They are irrelevant.

……

No, no amount of excuses makes sense.

She didn't want to involve them in her madness for one reason—

"Because we are friends." ""

The silver-haired boy and the black-haired boy looked at her and replied in unison.

——Because we are friends.

The author has something to say: Xiaojie and Qiya should not have come.

If they don't come, I can close this chapter.

BGM of this chapter: ONEOKROCK-《TheBegining》

The lyrics are as follows:

Justgivemeareason [Give me a reason quickly]

Tokeepmyheartbeating [make my heart keep beating]

Don't worry it's safe right here in my arms【Don't worry you're safe in my arms】

Astheworldfallsapartaroundus [When the world around us collapses before our eyes]

Allwecandoishholdonholdon【All we can do is hold on for a while】

Takemyhandandbringmeback【Take my hand and bring me back】

I'llriskeverythingifit'sforyou【I'll risk everything for you】

Awhisperintothenight [a whisper in the night]

Tellingmeit'snotmytimeanddon'tgiveup【Tell me it's not time to give up yet】

I'veneverstoodupbefore【I never insisted】

Thistimeでも譲れないもの【But this time I will never let go】

把ったこの手は从さない【Holding tightly the hand that cannot be given away】

SoStandupstandup【So cheer up】

Justgonnakeepit [just hold on]

Iwannawakeupwakeup [I want to wake up wake up]

JusttellmehowIcan【Quickly tell me how to never give up】

Nevergiveup狂おしいほどSetsunaの艶丽[That frenzied momentary beauty]

Justtellmewhybaby【Tell me why dear】

Theymightcallmecrazy【They might think I'm crazy】

ForsayingI'llfightuntilthereisnomore【Just because I said I will fight until the end】

Sorrow い を Han ん だ flashing eyes は emotional impulse [sorrow that flashes past the eyes makes the chest agitate]

BlindedIcan'tseetheend【There is a darkness in front of me, I can't see the end】

SowheredoIbegin【Then where should I start】

SaynotawordIcanhearyou [You don't have to speak and I can realize it]

Thesilencebetweenus【The silence between you and me】

なにもないように影ってるだけ【Just the surface】

I'll take this chance and I'll make it mine

ただ隠せないもの【The thing that cannot be hidden】

饰ったように见せかけてる【Just treat it as an ornament】

SoStandupstandup【So cheer up】

Justgottakeepit [just hold on]

Iwannawakeupwakeup [I want to wake up wake up]

JusttellmehowIcan【Quickly tell me how I can】

Nevergiveup【Never give up】

Sad しみと切なさの艶丽【A beauty that makes people sad and unforgettable】

Justgivemeareason [Give me a reason quickly]

Tokeepmyheartbeating [make my heart keep beating]

Don't worry it's safe right here in my arms【Don't worry you're safe in my arms】

くだけて吃いてをいてていいての思いいは【This feeling of broken crying and scattered】

SoblindedIcan'tseetheend【It's so dark I can't see the end】

Look how far we've made it [realize we've come this far]

ThepainIcan'tescapeit【The pain that I can't stay away from】

このままじゃまだfinal わらせる事は出ないでしょ【If this goes on, it still can’t end all of this】

Hedu くたばりそうでもうち果てようとも【No matter how hard you go, put your life on the line】

End わりはないさ【It will not end yet】

SowheredoIbegin【Then where should I start】

把りしめた失わぬようにと 【Hold tight and don't want to lose】

手を広げればこぼれ搏ちそうで【Let go of your hand and it will fall apart】

Lost うものなどなかった日々のInertiaを舍てて【Get used to it quickly】

Junを…【The time of not losing things is over, you】

Justtellmewhybaby【Tell me why dear】

Theymightcallmecrazy【They might think I'm crazy】

ForsayingI'llfightuntilthereisnomore【Just because I said I will fight until the end】

Sorrow い を Han ん だ flashing eyes は emotional impulse [sorrow that flashes past the eyes makes the chest agitate]

BlindedIcan'tseetheend【There is a darkness in front of me, I can't see the end】

Look how far we've made it [realize we've come this far]

ThepainIcan'tescapeit【The pain that I can't stay away from】

このままじゃまだfinal わらせる事は出ないでしょ【If this goes on, it still can’t end all of this】

Hedu くたばりそうでもうち果てようとも【No matter what, try your best to bet your life】

End わりはないさ【It will not end yet】

It finally begins【It finally begins】

☆、September 2003, 9, Astasia