루젠트의 산모퉁이에 위치한 어느 동굴에서 스리와 나인은 몸을 숨기고 있었다. “관리인”―― 황제에게서 도망친 뒤 스리는 이곳에서 휴식을 취하며 나인의 이야기를 들었다.
에이스의 이야기, 나인 자신의 이야기, 이번 작전에 대한 이야기. 그리고, 3년 전의 진실에 대한 이야기.
처음에는 가끔씩 질문을 던지던 스리가 중간부터는 침묵하더니, 마지막에는 고개를 숙여서 얼굴도 보이지 않는다.
자신을 배신했다고 생각한 벗이 실은 배신하기는커녕, 목숨과 바꾸어 자신을 구했다. 그런데도 자신은 그것도 모르고 그의 목숨을 빼앗고 그를 쭉 원망했었다. 그리고 이번에는 그의 동생이, 오빠의 원수인 자신을, 목숨을 걸고 지켜주었다……
온갖 생각들이 교차했다. 믿어도 될 사람은 분명히 있었다는 것, 그리고 지금도 있다는 것에 대한 안도와 기쁨. 동시에 한심하고 형편없이 어리석은 자신에 대한 끝없는 분노. 따스한 감정과 칙칙한 감정이 오가면서 숨이 막힐 지경이 되었다.
「스-, 울어？」
이야기를 끝내도 침묵하는 스리를 보며 나인이 물었다.
「안 울어」
늘 그랬듯 냉담하게 대답하는 스리.
「나-가 달래줄까？」
「안 운다니까」
말은 그렇게 하면서도 여전히 얼굴을 들지 않는다.
「스-는 연기가 서투르지만 연기가 안 들어간 거짓말은 더 서투르네～」
나인은 바닥에 주저앉은 스리에게 다가가 살며시 그의 머리를 끌어당겨 가슴에 댔다. 그리고 어머니가 아이를 달래듯 상냥하게 그 머리를 쓰다듬었다.
「이제 괜찮아～ 괜찮아～」
「그러니까, 나…는……」
반론하려 했지만 나인의 상냥한 손놀림에 막히고 말았다.
외모도 실제 나이도 어린 나인에게서는 마치 어머니와도 같은 포용과 자애가 넘쳐 흘렀다. 어머니의 온기라는 것을 모르고 자란 스리는 이때 처음으로 그것을 느낀 것일지도 모른다.
「스-는 열심히 했어～ 나-는 잘 알아. 그러니까 괜찮아～ 괜찮아～」
그리고 마침내 스리는, 오열을 멈출 수 없게 되었다.
「나-는… 윽… 왜 이렇게, 한심하게……」
울먹이는 목소리. 뜨거운 액체가 눈에서 흘러 넘쳤다.
「아니야」
나인은 상냥하게 스리의 머리를 계속해서 쓰다듬었다.
「왜 나 같은 게 살아있고, 에이스가 죽은 거냐고」
「그런 말 하지 마. 스-의 존재가 나-를 구했어」
「하지만 나 때문에, 에이스가……」
「그러니까 오빠 몫까지 열심히 살자, 응？」
「나는, 나, 는, 으윽……」
그 뒤부터는 통곡이었다. 마치 몇 년이나 모아 두었던 것들을 단숨에 풀어놓은 듯한, 마음 속 깊숙한 곳까지 씻어낸 듯한 감각을 스리는 느꼈다.
한참 뒤에야 스리는 간신히 조금 진정할 수 있었다.
「괜찮아, 나-가 옆에 있잖아. 그러니까 울지 마～ 그래도 많이 울어도 돼～」
「대체 어느 쪽이야」
조금은 냉정을 되찾은 스리는 자신이 아직도 나인의 가슴에 얼굴을 묻고 있다는 것을 깨닫고 당황해서 몸을 떼었다. 그리고 부끄러움을 얼버무릴 겸, 정보 교환으로 화제를 되돌렸다.
그렇다고는 해도 정보 교환은 나인의 설명으로 어느 정도 끝났기에 대화의 방향은 현재 상황 정리로 접어들었다.
「즉 내가 배반하려는 걸 “관리인”이 눈치챘고. 그래서 나인이 선수를 쳐서 놈의 의표를 찌르려 했다고」
「응. 계속 그 녀석을 쓰러뜨릴 기회를 찾고 있었어」
「나한테도 이야기해 줬으면 좋았을 텐데」
「그치만 스-는 연기를 못하잖아」
씁쓸한 표정을 짓는 스리. 실제로 엠퍼러에게도 나인에게도 계획이 들키고 말았으니 반론의 여지가 없었다.
「타이밍은 완벽했을 테고 준비도 충분했고, 그 녀석이 가장 방심한 순간에 가장 확실하게 죽일 수 있는 방법을 썼어. 그런데……」
그런데도 죽지 않았다. 그 낙석 속에서 대체 어떻게 살아남은 걸까, 그리고 마지막의 그건……
「아마 놈의 능력일 거야」
도망치기 전에도 스리는 이런 이야기를 했었다.
「능력이라면？」
「아마도 중력을 조작할 수 있는 능력…… 3년 전에 나랑 에이스도 그 능력 때문에 궁지에 몰렸었어」
그리고 스리는 쓰라린 기억을 억지로 꺼내 이야기했다.
두 번이나 “조직”에서 추격자를 격퇴했으나, 세 번째로 온 자가 엠퍼러였다. 허점을 찌르려 해도, 협동해서 공격하려 해도 놈의 앞에서는 꼭 몸이 무거워져 제대로 움직일 수 없었다. 반대로 녀석은 몸이 가벼워진 것처럼 민첩한 동작으로 스리와 에이스를 압도했다.
「어떻게 생각해？」
이야기를 마치고 스리가 나인에게 물었다.
「구동하는 기미가 없었으니 아마 아츠는 아닐 거고, 휴대 가능한 크기의 중력 제어 장치도 현재 기술 레벨로는 고려하기 어렵고…… 아마도 어떤 특이체질, 혹은 고대유물…… 낙석으로 죽지 않았던 건 바위의 무게를 소거했기 때문…일까？ 이 이상은 정보가 부족해……」
일단 말을 끊고, 나인은 계속했다.
「어느 쪽이든 그런 능력을 지닌 상대랑 정면으로 싸워 봤자… 죽을 뿐」
침묵이 둘 사이를 흘렀다. 그리고 그것을 깨뜨린 것은, 무겁게 입을 연 스리였다.
「여차할 때는, 이번에는 네가 날 죽이고――」
「싫어――――！！！」
나인으로서는 아주 드물게도 감정을 노골적으로 드러낸 절규로 스리를 막았다.
「하지만 그러면 적어도 나인 한 사람은……」
「스-가 죽으면 나-도 뒤를 쫓아 죽을 거야！ 자살할 거야！！」
조금 전의 자애 넘치는 어머니 같던 나인은 온데간데없고, 이번에는 어린아이가 투정을 부리듯 나인이 말했다. 다만 내용은 진지함 그 자체였다.
「이제 잠들 수 없는 밤으로 돌아가는 건 싫어…… 외톨이가 되는 건… 싫어……」
작아지는 목소리에는 무거운 감정과 결의가 담겨있다. 그것을 감지한 스리는 짧게 한숨을 쉬고는 심호흡을 한 번 한다.
「알았어. 약속할게. 무슨 일이 있어도 꼭 나인을 지킬게」
「그러니까 그것만으로는 안 된다니까！」
「그래, 알았어. 그러니까 이것도 약속할게. 무슨 일이 있어도, 반드시 나도 함께 살아남을게」
나인은 그 말을 듣고 절실한 눈빛으로 스리를 바라보았다.
「정말？」
「정말이야. 그러기 위해 지금 해야 할 최선의 행동은――」
그만한 낙석에서 설령 살아있다 해도 엠퍼러가 상처 하나 없을 거라고는 생각하기 힘들다. 선수를 빼앗지 못한 지금은 도망쳐도 금세 “조직”에 잡히고 말 것이다. 그때 완전히 회복한 엠퍼러와 싸운다면 결코 승산은 없을 것이다. 하려면 지금밖에 없다.
「우리가 먼저 공격해서 황제를 쓰러뜨리자！」
TO BE CONTINUED
Chapter 7 - Tears & Promises
Three and Nine ducked into a mountain cave on the outskirts of Luzent. They had fled from the Emperor as fast as their legs could carry them and were now completely out of breath. As they sat there together, Nine told Three everything she had kept from him up till then. She told him about Ace, about herself, the details of her plan, and finally, what really happened in that cave three years ago.
At the start, Three occasionally chimed in or asked questions, but as the conversation went on, he fell silent. By the end, his head was hung so low that Nine couldn't see his expression.
He had been utterly convinced that his friend--his one true friend--had betrayed him, when in reality, Ace had sacrificed his life to ensure Three would survive. And as thanks for that incredibly selfless act, Three had not only killed him, but had spent the past three years despising his memory. Then came his sister, risking her life to save her brother's killer.
Three felt his chest tighten up as a wild mix of emotions ran through his head, threatening to overpower him. He was grateful for being fortunate enough to have two people in his life--Ace and Nine--who he could fully trust. At the same time, he felt a bottomless well of anger burst up. Anger at himself, the pathetic excuse for a human being that he was.
Battered by his storm of emotions, his breathing became increasingly ragged.
'S? Are you crying?'
Nine looked on in concern, having finished her story. She didn't need a response, however. Three's pained silence spoke volumes.
'I'm fine,' he said, returning to his usual blunt tone.
'Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?' Nine asked.
'I said I'm fine.'
Despite his words, Three's head still hung low.
'You're an awful actor, but you're an even worse liar when you're not performing, you know that?'
Three sunk down to his knees. Nine moved over to him, taking his head in her hands. She began gently ruffling his hair, like a mother comforting a child.
'Everything's okay now,' she murmured gently, 'It's all okay.'
'But I... I...' Three stammered, his voice growing weak and hoarse.
The last bits of Three's facade broke down, overwhelmed by Nine's kindness, and he relented at last. Nine was younger than Three and definitely looked the part, but in that moment, she showed an almost motherly level of understanding and compassion. For someone like Three, who grew up without that warmth, it was his first time being comforted by someone--his first time feeling the warmth of family.
'I know how strong you've had to be, S. I know how hard it's been. For so long... But it's okay now. I promise.'
No longer able to hold his emotions back, he finally broke down. A lifetime's worth of tears came flooding out of his eyes all at once.
'I'm... I'm such a wretched excuse for a--' he sobbed, no longer able to control his voice in the slightest.
Hot tears poured down his cheeks, staining the cool floor of the cave.
'That's not true. You know that's not true,' Nine said softly, continuing to run her fingers through his hair.
'Why am I still alive? Why isn't Ace here instead?'
He weakly slammed his fist against the ground in frustration.
'Not another word of that. I won't hear it. You're the one who's been there for me the past few years. You, S.'
'But it's because of me that Ace--'
'Listen. That just means you need to fight twice as hard. You're living for him, too, now.'
'I... I...'
Three's words failed him as he was overtaken by sobbing. His years of pain and suffering pouring out of him.
After some time, Three was able to calm himself down somewhat and regain his composure.
'I'm here for you, so you don't have to cry,' Nine told him, 'But if you ever want to, then that's okay, too.'
'So which is it, then?' Three retorted, his detached demeanor creeping back.
He suddenly became aware of the fact he was in her arms and hurriedly pulled away. He immediately turned the conversation back toward exchanging information in an attempt to mask his sudden embarrassment.
They finished catching up and turned their attention to their current predicament.
'So the Overseer had figured me out. He knew I was going to try to make a run for it. And that's why you moved to strike first--in order to outmaneuver him,' Three thought out loud.
'That's right. I've been watching the whole time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to take him down.'
'I wish you'd told me beforehand.'
'And let you spoil the element of surprise with your awful acting skills?' Nine gave a wry grin, 'Yeaaah, I don't think so.'
Three's face scrunched up a bit. Both Nine and the Emperor had caught on to his plan, so there was little room to defend himself in that regard.
'I chose the moment he'd be the most distracted,' Nine continued, switching to a serious expression, 'My timing was perfect, and my preparations were more than enough. Yet, despite all that...'
Despite everything, despite being buried under a pile of massive boulders, the Emperor was still very much alive. No matter how much she thought, Nine simply couldn't figure out how it was possible.
'It's likely his power at work,' Three said.
He had said the same thing earlier, right as they took off running.
'What exactly is his power?' Nine asked.
'I'm fairly certain he can control gravity somehow,' Three said, 'He did something similar three years ago, when Ace and I fought him.'
Three wrenched open a bitter, painful memory, and began relaying what he remembered to Nine. He and Ace had been able to fend off the first two pairs of assailants sent after them by the Organization. It was then that they faced the Emperor, however. Even with the element of surprise on their side, even when they coordinated their attacks perfectly, facing him proved exceptionally difficult. They found their bodies heavy and clumsy, and their movements lacking precision and skill. The Emperor, on the other hand, was nimble as could be, almost inhumanly so, and the two were quickly overpowered.
'So, what do you think?' Three looked at Nine, awaiting her input.
'There was no sign of him starting any cast or chargeup, so I doubt he's using arts,' she said, her brow furrowed in thought, 'As for a portable gravity manipulation device small enough for a single person to carry and conceal, well...given modern technology, it's seriously hard to imagine. He might have an artifact, or something like it. An avalanche couldn't kill him and he has enough precise control to be able to move individual stones and boulders...'
Nine scratched her head in frustration.
'Rrgh...dammit. We really don't have a lot to go on here.'
She paused, thinking a moment more, and then continued.
'In any case, unless something major changes, he's too powerful for us. Any attempt at a direct attack is going to result in our deaths.'
They fell silent for a time, until Three spoke up, a grave expression on his face.
'If the time comes when we have to choose, we're going to prioritize your life, Nine. You need to be the one to ki--'
'STOP IT!!!'
Nine silenced Three with an outburst of pure emotion, far more raw than her usual self.
'But then at least you'd be able to--'
'If you die, I'm going right after you!' she shouted, 'I'll do it myself, if I have to!'
The calm, motherly figure from before was nowhere to be seen. Nine was in a frenzy now, almost like a child throwing a tantrum. Regardless of her tone, however, her words were heartfelt and earnest.
'I can't go back to not being able to sleep,' her voice dropped to a whisper, 'I can't go back to being alone.'
The weight of her feelings was clear to Three. Seeing this, he let out a short sigh.
'Then you have my word. No matter what happens, I'll protect you.'
'That's not what I'm asking for!'
'Okay, you're right,' Three said, taking a deep breath, 'Then I promise that we'll survive this. We'll get through it together.'
Nine looked at Three with imploring, almost pleading eyes.
'You swear?'
'I swear,' he said. 'Now, if we're going to have any chance at all, we'll need to do everything perfectly.'
The rock slide was massive enough that despite the fact that he survived it, it was hard to imagine the Emperor was completely unscathed. If they tried to flee now, the Organization would quickly find them again, and they would have to contend with the Emperor at his full strength.
The pair knew if they were going to make a move, now was the time.
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