Shiranui Flare IF Route: An Endless Song for You, Covered in Ashes
I'm Shiranui Flare. I was a top virtual elf streamer, having a blast with my fans, when my screen went white—and I woke up in a strange city.
This is the Lazberil Kingdom, a place where elves are discriminated against by humans. Seriously?! The idea of me being the one discriminated against isn't even funny enough to be a streaming gag. But I got caught up in the commotion and thrown in jail. That's when I was saved by Lucas, a totally weird human merchant.
Lucas doesn't care about the elf t
Shiranui Flare IF Route: An Endless Song for You, Covered in Ashes - I couldn't bring myself to say, "You don't have to protect me" — The Late-Night Inn Attack and the Blood-Soaked Lucas
It was around the time the western sky began to stain red that they closed up shop at Porta Square.
Flare rolled up the sleeves of her linen tunic and wrapped the folding drying rack in cloth. The last customer—a plump baker's wife—had left in high spirits, calling out, "I'll be back!"
"[laughing]Another good day. Your sales talk had the customers' eyes turning into literal hearts."
Lucas chuckled beside her as he packed up their things. His dull, wavy blond hair was tinged just slightly orange in the evening light.
"[excited]Right?! My talking skills work even in another world! Don't underestimate an elf, that's what I say!"
Her voice was as bright as ever.
But—deep in her chest, there was a rough, gritty unease, like sand.
She couldn't stop thinking about last night.
Sara's serious eyes. The name "Vanagur Trading Company." And—the intimate scene between Lucas and Sara she'd witnessed in the hallway.
And one more thing.
"(...I feel like someone's watching me.)"
Ever since the walk home yesterday, that feeling hadn't left her.
A prickling sensation right in the middle of her back.
She'd turn around and no one was there. But—the presence alone clung to her, refusing to fade.
"[serious]Flare? What's wrong?"
"[surprised]Huh? Oh, no! It's nothing! Come on, let's go home!"
Flare hurriedly put on a smile.
(I'm overthinking it. It'll work out somehow.)
She told herself that.
But—that "it'll work out somehow" echoed with a strange emptiness today.
——*——*——
When they returned to the Lanterna Inn, the innkeeper Baldo emerged from behind the counter.
He was an older man who usually greeted them with a booming "Welcome back!" As a former adventurer, he had broad shoulders and thick arms. His stubble, flecked with white, was distinctive, and he was normally a man who laughed heartily.
But tonight—the smile had vanished from his face.
"[serious]...You two, come here for a moment."
Baldo lowered his voice and beckoned them over.
Lucas furrowed his brow.
"[serious]What is it, old man? You're being awfully formal."
"[whispers]Since around noon today, some suspicious characters have been lurking around here."
Baldo picked up a liquor bottle from the edge of the counter and spoke as he poured it into a glass. His hand seemed to tremble—just a little.
"[whispers]Three men in black cloaks. They passed back and forth in front of the inn three times. They reek of the type looking for an elf."
Flare's chest tightened sharply.
(I knew it—it's me.)
The stares she'd felt since yesterday. The rumors of slave traders Sara had mentioned.
The dots connected, one after another, crackling into place.
"[serious]...I see."
But Lucas's face remained as calm as ever.
"[serious]If we double-lock the doors tonight, it shouldn't be a problem. I'll consult the trade guild tomorrow."
"[whispers]You're as optimistic as always..."
"[laughing]Wrong. I'm just being rational."
Lucas shrugged and turned toward Flare.
"[gentle]Flare, eat your dinner like normal. When you're hungry, you end up thinking nothing but strange things."
"[surprised]...Huh? Oh, okay. Got it."
Flare nodded.
But—even after sitting down at the dining hall table, her hand wouldn't move. She just poked at the herbs in her soup with her spoon.
Beside her, Lucas was, as usual, spreading out sketches of his new inventions. They were scribbled in charcoal on parchment—blueprints she couldn't really make sense of.
"[excited]Look, Flare! This is a powder that turns liquids into solids. If you sprinkle it on soup, it hardens like bread and you can eat it. Revolutionary, right?"
"[surprised]Liquids... into solids?"
"[excited]Exactly! I'll give you a demonstration."
Lucas pulled a small vial from his pocket and sprinkled the white powder inside onto the soup.
In an instant—
BUBBLE BUBBLE BUBBLE BUBBLE!!!
The soup suddenly began to foam, transforming into a gray, goopy mystery liquid.
"[surprised]What the hell is this?"
"[sarcastic]...I can't tell which one's the liquid anymore."
Flare delivered the retort weakly.
"[serious]...A failure."
Lucas, deadpan, wrote "Failure" on his sketch.
Seeing that, Flare laughed, just a little.
(Even at a time like this, he's the same as always.)
But—
Right after she laughed, the cold feeling deep in her chest still didn't go away.
——*——*——
Late at night.
Flare opened her eyes.
The wooden beams of the ceiling floated dimly in the moonlight.
She turned over.
The rustle of the bedding sounded terribly loud.
(...I'm thirsty.)
She slipped out of bed and put her feet on the floor.
The cold sensation of the stone paving reached the soles of her bare feet.
She stepped out into the hallway.
The hallway of the Lanterna Inn was narrow, with a single wall lamp casting an orange glow. There was a faint smell of burning oil.
Flare started toward the water station—
Creak.
She stopped.
From near the inn's back door, she heard a faint creaking sound.
(...The wind?)
No.
This time—multiple footsteps.
Faint, but unmistakable, the sound of shoes stepping on stone.
Every hair on Flare's body stood on end.
I have to run—
But her legs wouldn't move.
The memory of being pinned to the ground by the guards that time came surging back, pounding in her veins.
She couldn't make a sound then, either.
Her body wouldn't move then, either.
"[whispers]Found her."
A voice came from the darkness.
—They appeared.
Men clad entirely in black cloaks.
One, two, three—five of them.
They closed in on her down the hallway, step by relentless step.
The man in the lead stopped right in front of Flare. From deep within his hood, gleaming eyes peered out. An old scar carved into the corner of his mouth looked especially dark in the lamplight.
"[whispers]...Hand over the one elf. Do that, and we won't touch the inn."
Flare pressed her back against the wall.
The cold feel of the stone.
(I have to—say something.)
But her throat felt frozen solid. Nothing came out.
Only her lips trembled.
"[whispers]If you come quietly, we won't hurt you. This is just business for us, after all."
The man reached out his hand.
Rough, gnarled fingers were about to grab Flare's arm—
In that instant.
BAM!!!
The bedroom door was kicked open.
"[angry]Don't touch her!!!"
Lucas burst out.
His eyes were still heavy with sleep, his hair a complete mess. His nightshirt was hanging open.
But—in his hand, he gripped that folding portable pole. The unsold novelty item.
"[angry]You bastards, what the hell are you doing in someone's hallway in the middle of the night?!!"
Lucas swung the pole down with all his might on the first man.
THWACK!!!
It hit the thug square in the knee. The man crumpled to the ground with a cry of "Guah!"
Without a moment's pause, Lucas swept the pole sideways.
—But at that instant.
Click!
There was the sound of a spring, and the pole extended into two stages.
"[surprised]What's with this length?!"
Lucas himself stared wide-eyed at the pole, now an unexpected length.
"[scared]It got longer somehow?!"
The thugs flinched for a moment, too.
Seizing that opening, Lucas twisted up another man's arm, managing to subdue him somehow.
"[angry]Flare! Run—"
Before he could finish.
The remaining three moved.
One of them drove his fist into Lucas's stomach.
A dull thud.
Lucas's body folded in half.
Even so—
Lucas didn't fall.
He stood his ground, spreading both arms wide as if to shield Flare.
"[angry]...I won't let you... lay a single finger on her..."
Spitting blood, Lucas smiled.
—With a face that looked like he was about to cry.
"[cold]Shut up."
The leader raised a club.
To Flare's eyes, everything seemed to play out in slow motion.
Lucas's back.
The club swinging down.
—And then.
CRACK!!!
The sickening sound of something hard hitting a skull.
Lucas collapsed onto the stone floor just like that.
Fresh blood streamed from his head, spreading blackly across the gray stone.
The cord tying his hair came undone, and his dull blond hair became stained with blood.
"...Run."
His hoarse voice said just that, at the very end.
The strength drained from Lucas's arms.
"—Nooooooooooooo!!!"
Flare's scream echoed throughout the inn.
She crumbled to her knees.
She felt no pain from hitting her knees on the stone, nothing at all.
She just—desperately reached out her hand toward the fallen Lucas.
"[crying]Lucas!! Lucas, no, stop, please open your eyes!!"
She shook Lucas by the shoulders.
But—his eyelids remained closed.
His face grew paler and paler.
The blood wouldn't stop.
Flare's hands were dyed bright red with Lucas's blood.
(If only I—if only I weren't here.)
Those words alone spun round and round in her head.
Her mask of positivity shattered into tiny pieces.
This wasn't something she could laugh off with an "it'll work out somehow."
Because—because Lucas might die.
Because of me.
"—Hey! What the hell are you bastards doing?!!"
An angry shout from the second floor.
Baldo came rushing down the stairs, emergency bell in hand.
CLANG CLANG CLANG!!!
The bell rang out noisily, echoing through the entire inn.
From the distance, the sound of the guards' whistles began to be heard.
"[angry]Tch, it's the guards. Let's get out of here!"
The thugs fled through the back door, scattering luggage as they went.
——*——*——
Flare couldn't move.
Kneeling beside Lucas, she gripped his hand with trembling fingers.
Lucas's fingers—moved faintly.
"[whispers]...Flare..."
"[crying]Lucas! I'm here! I'm right here!!"
"[whispers]...You're... safe..."
Saying just that, the strength left Lucas's hand.
It fell limply.
"[crying]Huh... wait, Lucas? Hey, Lucas!!"
She shook him, but there was no response anymore.
"[crying]No... no... Please, open your eyes... Lucas, Lucas..."
Tears overflowed endlessly, falling onto Lucas's blood-stained cheek.
—The feeling born in her chest last night.
That feeling of "love."
It had been soft and fluffy, like a tiny bud.
But now—it pressed down on Flare with a weight that threatened to crush her.
The person she loved was collapsed and covered in blood.
Protecting her.
Because of her.
She couldn't laugh it off.
She couldn't overcome it with positivity.
It was the first time in her life she'd ever felt an emotion like this.
——*——*——
A doctor from the Crevista Infirmary rushed over with the guards shortly after.
A stretcher was brought in, and Lucas was carefully placed on it.
"[serious]A severe blow to the head. There's significant blood loss. Whether he regains consciousness—depends on tonight."
The doctor whispered that to Baldo.
In a lowered voice.
But—Flare's elven ears heard every word.
(Depends on tonight—)
(He might not make it.)
A horrifying chill ran up her spine.
"[serious]We're taking him to the infirmary. Follow us."
The stretcher began to move.
Flare ran beside it, silently.
She ran over the nighttime stone pavement, still barefoot.
An elf, forbidden from going out at night, running right in front of the guards—she didn't even care about such contradictions now.
She was out of breath.
The soles of her feet were cut by the stones, blood seeping out.
But—she couldn't stop.
In her head, a single chain of cause and effect repeated itself.
(Because I'm an elf from another world.)
(Because I became Lucas's business partner.)
(Because—I'm here.)
That's why they came.
That's why Lucas is—.
——*——*——
They arrived at the infirmary.
Lucas was carried into the treatment room, and the door was closed.
Flare leaned against the white hallway wall and slid down to sit.
She stared intently at her bloodied hands.
Lucas's blood.
Blood shed to protect her.
"[crying]...I have to... contact Sara..."
But—how could she tell Sara?
Your fiancé is in critical condition because he protected me.
(If only... I weren't here.)
Flare bit her lip.
She tasted blood.
The fourth night since her transfer to another world.
For the first time, Shiranui Furea was conf
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