3과 9/6권

제6회 나인

내가 태어나자마자 어머니가 죽었다. 아버지와 오빠와 셋이서 살고 있었다.

철이 들 무렵부터 아버지가 지독한 놈이라는 것을 알았다. 어머니가 남긴 미라로 제대로 일하지도 않고 매일 술에 빠져 살았다. 기분이 언짢은 날엔 자주 집안에서 폭력을 휘둘렀다.

내 뒷바라지는 전부 오빠가 해 주었다. 집안에서도 밖에서도 오빠가 늘 나를 지켜주었다. 이런 집이라도 오빠와 함께라면 살아갈 수 있다고 어린 나는 생각했다. 하지만 그런 생활은 언제까지나 계속되지 않았다. 미라가 모두 떨어졌고, 아버지는 오빠와 내게 일을 시키려 했다. 하지만 어린아이가 벌 수 있는 액수는 너무나 뻔했다. 그러자 아버지는 무정하게도 오빠를 “팔아 치웠다”. 그때부터 나는 아버지를 가족이라고 생각하지 않았다. 하지만 달리 의지할 곳이 없었고 오빠가 언젠가 돌아올지도 모른다는 헛된 기대를 품고 나는 그 집에 남아 있을 수밖에 없었다.

그로부터 약 3년이 지난 어느 날, 오빠에게서 편지가 도착했다. 굉장히 어려운 환경이긴 하지만 어떻게든 살아가고 있다는, 그런 이야기가 적혀 있었다. 거기 적혀 있는 방법대로 나도 오빠에게 편지를 쓸 수 있었다. 드디어 오빠와 다시 이어지게 되어 너무나도 기뻤다.

오빠가 “조직”이라 불리는 곳의 관리하에서 강제로 사람을 죽이는 일을 하고 있다는 것을 알았다. 글자를 통해 그 괴로움이 아플 정도로 내게 전해져 왔다. “조직”의 관리는 엄격해서 이렇게 편지를 주고받는 것도 오빠의 파트너가 협력해 준 덕분이라고 했다.

그 “파트너”에 대해 오빠는 자주 편지에 쓰곤 했다. 동료이자 친구로, 나이가 비슷한 동생 같은 사람이라고 했다. 그 사람에 대해 적을 때만 오빠의 문장이 조금 밝게 느껴졌다. 어느샌가 나도 그 사람을 만나 보고 싶어졌다. 하지만 오빠조차 만날 수 없는 이 상황에 그것이 무리한 일이라는 것은 알고 있었다.

그렇게 편지를 주고받는 나날이 한동안 계속되었다. 하지만 그것도 길지는 않았다. 집의 미라가 또 바닥을 보였다. 이번에는 내 차례라고 막연하게 생각했다. 그 사실을 오빠에게 전하자, 그 이야기에 결심이 섰는지, 오빠는 파트너와 함께 “조직”에서 도망치기로 결정했다. 「꼭 돌아갈게」라거나, 나를 「이 집에서 구해내겠다」거나, 그런 이야기만으로 엮인 편지의 말미에는 딱 두 줄의 불길한 문장이 있었다. 「만일 도주에 실패하더라도 파트너만큼은 살려낼 거야. 무슨 일이 있거든 그 녀석한테 부탁해.」 그게 오빠에게서 받은 마지막 편지였다.

결국 오빠는 돌아오지 않았고 예상대로 나도 아버지의 손에 의해 “팔렸다”. 아버지는 뭔가 위험한 약에 손을 댄 것 같았다. 조만간 또 미라는 바닥을 보일 테고 그땐 그도 파멸을 맞이하게 될 것이다. 이제는 아무래도 상관없는 일이었다.

브로커를 거쳐 나 역시 “조직”으로 끌려갔다. 오빠의 죽음을 알게 된 것은 “양성소”에 들어간 바로 그 시기였다. 아마 나는 그때부터 망가졌을 것이다.

현실에서 도망치려고 필사적으로 훈련에 몸을 던졌다. 주변이 눈에 들어오지 않았다. 자신조차 보이지 않았다. “마음” 따위 가지지 않는, 지령만을 수행하는 “인형”. 그리고 밤이 되면 죽은 오빠를, 자신이 혼자가 되었다는 것을, 앞으로 두 손은 피로 물들게 되리라는 것을 떠올리며 공포에 떠느라 잠에 들 수가 없었다. 그래도 몸은 휴식을 요구했기에 하루에 1시간은 잘 수 있었다. 컨디션이 좋을 땐 2시간. 하지만 수면은 얕았고, 언제 악몽 때문에 깨어나도 이상하지 않았다.

그런 상태로 1년이 흐르고, 나는 이례적인 속도로 “양성소”를 졸업했다.

그리고 그를 만날 수 있었다. 오빠의 파트너였던 그 사람.

한차례 “조직”을 배신했던 그는 마침 “재교육”을 끝내고 나와 팀을 짜게 되었다. 오빠를 죽인 장본인이었기에 처음에는 그를 미워하기로 했다. 눈을 번뜩이며, 모든 신경을 곤두세워 그를 감시했다.

그렇게 여러 날이 지났고, 마침내 팽팽해진 신경이 한계를 넘어 끊어진 것일까, 아니면 본능이 “괜찮다”고 판단한 것일까. 어느 날 임무 뒤에 나는 그의 바로 곁에서 잠들어 버렸다. 1년 만의 깊은 수면이었다. 그의 곁은 오빠처럼 포근한 느낌이 있었다. 깨어난 나는 많은 것들을 떠올리고는 나도 모르게 울고 말았다. 흘린 눈물과 함께 마음에 걸어 두었던 족쇄가 풀리고 “인간의 마음”을 이제야 되찾은 기분이었다. 흐느껴 우는 나를 그는 당황하며 달래려고 했지만, 결국 울음소리만 커질 뿐이었다.

그는 오빠의 편지에 적힌 그대로의 인물이었다. 무뚝뚝하고 조금 서투르고, 하지만 파트너를 잘 배려하는 상냥한 사람. “조직”에 속박당해 살인을 강요당하지만 그래도 “인간”이 되는 것을 포기하지 않는 강한 사람. 다만 편지 속의 그보다 커다란 슬픔을 짊어지고 있었다. 그런 그가 자신이 살아남기 위해 오빠를 배신했을 거라고는 도저히 생각할 수 없었다.

편지의 마지막 말을 떠올리자 진실은 쉽게 추측되었다.

도망가서 절망적인 위기에 빠진 오빠와 스리. 두 사람이 살해당하는 것보다 한 사람이라도 살아남는 편이 낫다. 한쪽이 다른 한쪽을 죽이면 그것이 가능했다. 하지만 그런 이야기를 해봤자 분명 그는 인정하지 않을 것이다. 인정한다 해도 자신이 죽겠다고 했을 것이 뻔했다. 그래서 오빠는 그를 기습해서 그를 배신하는 시늉을 했다. 그로 하여금 자신을 죽이게 하고 그를 살렸다. 제일 믿었던 사람에게 배신당했다는, 커다란 마음의 상처를 주고…… 지독한 사람이야, 오빠는.

그리고, 그의 곁이 내게는 가장 안심할 수 있는 장소가 되었다. 마치 1년분의 수면을 되찾는 것처럼, 낮이든 임무 중이든, 기회가 있을 때마다 나는 그의 곁에서 잠이 들었다. 그가 종종 황당해할 만도 했다.

하지만 정작 그가 항상 악몽에 시달린다는 것을 나는 안다. 그 원인의 하나가 오빠와의 일일 것이다. 그의 괴로운 모습을 보고 나는 몇 번이나 그에게 진실을 말하려 했다. 하지만 안 돼！ 아직 때가 아니야！ 그는… 연기가 서투르다. “양성소”에서 그런 훈련도 받았기 때문에 딱히 동작이나 표정이 서투른 것은 아니다. 다만 이상하게 성실한 구석이 있기 때문일까, 도가 지나치거나 역으로 모자라거나 하는 일이 자주 있었다. 예리한 사람에게는 쉽게 들킨다. 분명 천성적으로 사람을 속이는 것을 꺼리는 성품인 것이리라. 그러니 아직 그에게 나에 대해 이야기할 수는 없었다.

그는 오래 전부터 도주 준비를 하고 있었다. 어쩔 수 없다고는 하지만 내게 이야기하지 않았던 것은 조금 섭섭했다. 하지만 문제는 그게 아니다. “조직”이 그를 의심하고 있다는 것이 가장 큰 문제였다. 물론 나는 그가 불리해질 만한 보고는 하지 않지만, 그 불안한 연기가 “조직”에 간파당했다간 그땐 속수무책이다. 아직 결정적인 증거는 없을 테지만 그것도 시간 문제일 것이다.

할도르 바른 암살 임무를 끝내고 그것을 보고했을 때, 눈앞의 남자는 평소와는 명확히 다른 분위기였다. 그자가 바로 “관리인”―― 황제(디 엠퍼러). 우리를 관리하고 살인을 강요하는 악의 우두머리다. 언제나 로브로 얼굴을 가리고 있지만 그 불길한 기운만큼은 가려지지 않았다. 지금의 엠퍼러는 마치 사냥감을 발견한 매처럼 조용히 흥분하고 있었다.

확실해！ 엠퍼러는 그의 배신을 확신하고 있어！ 아마 금방이라도 그를 죽이러 갈 작정일 거야…… 그렇다면 내 작전을 실행할 뿐.

내게 오빠에 대해 알려준 뒤 그와 짝을 지어 준 엠퍼러의 의도는 명백했다. 내가 그에게 복수하는 것, 그를 함정에 빠뜨려 고발하는 것, 그에게 다시 절망을 맛보여주는 것, 그리고 자신이 그것을 보고 즐기는 것. 우리는 “조직”의 도구인 동시에 엠퍼러의 장난감이기도 하니까.

그렇다면 바라는 대로 해주겠어――

임무 보고를 마치고 파트너가 배반하려 한다는 것을 엠퍼러에게 전했다. 나는 거기다 장소와 시간을 지정해 그를 불러내 죽이는 절차까지 엠퍼러에게 이야기하고 승낙을 받았다. 로브 아래에 숨긴 얼굴은 여전히 보이지 않았지만 그 말끝에 새어나오는 유열의 울림을 나는 놓치지 않았다.

해 질 녘, 그는 지정 장소인 산속의 언덕 아래로 왔다.

갑작스러운 배신 고발에 그는 심하게 동요했고, 거기에 오빠와 나의 관계를 이야기하자 그 얼굴에 경악과 절망과 체념이 뒤섞였다. 그의 그런 표정을 보고 나도 슬퍼졌다. 하지만 비웃음과 증오와 살의를 담은 시선을 그에게 보냈고 악의로 충만한 말들로 그를 상처입혔다. 옆에 있는 엠퍼러를 속이려면 아주 조금의 망설임도 허용되지 않는다.

그를 공격하기 위해 앞으로 나섰다. 그리고 강철실로 공격하기 위해 접근했다. 하지만 진짜 의도는 엠퍼러에게서 거리를 두는 것이었다.

맥없는 반격을 받아내고 싱겁게 우위를 점했다. 강철실의 고리가 그의 목에 걸리고, 결판이 났다. 이제 아주 조금만 힘을 주면 그의 목숨은 없어진다.

손가락을 움직이며 목소리를 높였다.

「이걸로 끝이야」

연기가 섞이지 않은, 온전한 진심의 목소리.

강철실에 섞여있는 투명실이 내 움직임에 따라 죄어들었다. 나무들을 타고 멀리서 복잡한 기하학 문양을 이룬 실들이 순식간에 고리를 만들어 그 중심에 있는 사냥감을 잡아 올렸다.

――장난감이 살해당하는 순간에 의식을 집중해서 가장 경계심이 풀어진 상태였던 엠퍼러를.

「끄으윽――――」

최선의 타이밍으로 가한 불의의 습격이 멋들어지게 엠퍼러를 속박했다.

이 투명실은 절단력이 거의 없다. 있었다면 나무를 매개로 한 트릭도 완성할 수 없었을 것이다. 강도는 강철실의 몇 배나 됐지만, 엠퍼러를 상대로 언제까지 버틸지 알 수 없었다.

나는 즉시 준비했던 다른 실을 힘껏 당겼다. 그러자 쾅쾅하는 낮은 소리가 울려 퍼지고 언덕의 바위가 무너져내렸다. 전부터 이 근처에서 암반이 약한 곳을 찾아 준비해둔 것이다. 낙석이 무더기로 굴러 떨어졌다. 그 중엔 10에이쥬 이상의 거대한 바위가 있다. 그것이 정확히 엠퍼러의 머리 위쪽으로 “쿠웅”하는 굉음과 함께 땅을 울리며 떨어졌다.

낙석이 끝난 현장은 마치 지진이 일어난 뒤처럼 참혹했다. 그만한 질량에 직격당한 엠퍼러는 역시 이제는 살아있지 않을 것이다. 죽지 않았다 해도 생매장이다.

옆의 그는 아직 사태를 이해하지 못하고 멍해져 있었다.

「스-」

겨우 그의 이름을 부르고는 힘껏 그의 가슴에 뛰어들었다. 내가 가장 안심할 수 있는 곳. 그의 품 속에 파고들어 절대 떨어지지 않았다.

이렇게까지 어리광을 부리는 건 역시 처음…… 하지만 정말로 무서웠단 말이야.

「이것저것 심한 소리를 해서 미안해…… 말 안 해서 미안해……」

설명해야 할 것은 많았지만, 어쨌든 이 말을 하고 싶었다.

아직 상황을 파악하지 못한 그는, 그럼에도 부드럽게 내 머리를 쓰다듬어 주었다.

「나인, 대체 무슨――」

그 질문이 끝나기도 전에, 이변이 일어났다.

낙석의 산이 희미하게 진동하더니 작은 돌들이 느리긴 하지만―― 공중으로 떠올랐다.

「뭐야！？」

놀라 눈을 부릅뜨는 우리들.

「공속성 아츠？ 아니……」

그것과는 다른 것 같다…… 아니면 비행선과 같은 원리로 움직이는 무슨 장치？ 모르겠어……

머릿속을 뒤지고 있는데 그는 긴박한 목소리로 말했다.

「저건 “관리인”의…… 엠퍼러의 능력이야！」

「뭐？」

나도 모르게 숨을 삼켰다. 그것이 뜻하는 바는, 즉 엠퍼러는 아직 죽지 않았다는 것.

그러는 동안 더욱 많은 돌들이 떠올랐다.

「도망가자！ 나인！」

그가 멍해진 내 손을 끌어당기며 달리기 시작했다.

상당한 거리를 달린 뒤, 커다란 폭발음에 뒤를 돌아보았다. 거기서는 마치 화산이 폭발하듯, 거대한 바위가 하늘 높이 솟아오르고 있었다……

TO BE CONTINUED

Chapter 6 - Nine of Swords

My mother died soon after I was born. From that point, it was just me, my older brother, and our dad. As far back as I can remember, my dad was a monster. He took the mira Mom left us and used it entirely for himself, spending each day drinking it away. He made no effort to put it to good use--to do anything that might help our family. And when he was in a bad mood, what little safe haven we had was violently wrested away. My brother acted more like a parent to me than Dad ever did. Whether at home or out somewhere else, he always protected me. I really hated that house, but I always felt like it was bearable when he was there by my side. Those days didn't last for long, however.

I was still quite young when the household ran out of money and Dad decided to put us to work. There weren't many options for a child to earn much mira, though, and even between my brother and I, our income barely made a scratch in the mounting debt.

One day, my brother vanished and Dad announced he had 'let him spread his wings.' In other words, he had abandoned him. It was at that point that I stopped thinking of that monster as my family. Even in such an awful situation, I still held on to the idea that my brother would come back to me one day. That meant my only option was to stay there until he did.

Three long years later, I finally received a letter from him. He wrote that he was in a miserable place, but that he was managing to stay alive. I was able to send him a reply via the same method, thrilled to have a connection with him once again. I eventually found out he was being forced to work as a killer for a shadowy society called 'the Organization.' The things he said he had to do were awful. Inhuman. Just from reading his words, I could feel his pain as though it was my own. He said that the Organization was nightmarishly strict and that it was only thanks to his partner that he was able to send me letters in the first place.

My brother wrote a lot about his partner, describing him as a true friend--almost like a younger brother. This was the only topic where I saw his writing soften--where he seemed happy. Naturally, I found myself wanting to meet this person. But that was impossible and I knew it. I couldn't even meet with my own sibling, let alone his partner in some secret assassin cabal.

We continued exchanging letters like this for some time, but even that came to an end. The household ran out of mira again and I knew what was coming. I could tell it would soon be my turn to leave. I wrote my brother, telling him as much. He wrote back, telling me that he and his partner had decided to escape the Organization. I could sense from his words just how resolved he was to do it. He followed his declaration with a promise to come for me--to get me out of that hellhole of a home. What followed, however, at the very end of his letter, was a grim note.

'If this escape somehow ends in failure, I'm going to prioritize my partner's life over my own. If it comes down to it, I'll sacrifice everything to make sure he at least gets out of here. You can trust him. If anything happens, you can rely on him to help.'

That was the last letter I ever received from him. In the end, he never came back for me, and our dad kicked me out, just as I thought he would. He had become a slovenly mess. From the look of it, he had gotten himself addicted to some especially nasty substances--the kind that tend to quickly drain one's finances. I knew they were destroying him physically as well, but I had stopped caring long ago. I was done with that disgusting scumbag I once called my dad.

I used an intermediary to secure an opportunity to join the Organization. It was right as I was entering training that I learned of my brother's death. I was told he was killed by his own partner. It was then my world began to fall apart. I threw myself headlong into my training, not thinking of anything else. I was distraught and trying to escape reality however I could. I ignored everyone around me, and even myself. I let my soul slip into hibernation and fully assumed the role of one of the Organization's tools.

During the day, I would follow orders, not thinking for myself. But then night would come, and I'd have nothing to distract me. My mind would be tormented by thoughts of my brother's passing. The realization that I was now truly alone in the world shook me--as did the notion that my hands would soon be irreversibly stained with blood. Once the fear set in, there was no escaping it and I gradually lost the ability to sleep properly. The body does have a limit, of course, and I'd eventually fall unconscious for about an hour a night. Two, if I was really lucky. But it wasn't sleep--not really. It was far too shallow for me to physically or mentally recover much, and what little rest I did get was plagued with nightmares. Even after I had woken up, those bizarre, horrid sensations remained...

A year passed like this, with no improvement whatsoever. Despite that, I was able to graduate from the factory at an exceptionally fast pace. That was when I finally had a chance to meet him: the boy who had fought alongside my brother as his partner. He had just finished his own 'reeducation'--a consequence of betraying the Organization. As fate would have it, we were assigned as partners.

He was the one who had stolen my brother from me, so I was resolved to despise him from the moment we met. I quietly kept a close eye on him, observing each and every one of his movements.

Before long, though, something unexpected happened. Perhaps all of my pent-up fear and exhaustion had finally boiled over; perhaps it was just my instincts telling me the truth I had been ignoring. Whatever the reason, one day, we were out on a mission, and I found myself able to sleep when I was next to him. I mean actually sleep. Deeply and soundly, for the first time in an entire year. There was something about his presence that gave me a sense of security. It wasn't unlike how I remembered feeling being next to my brother, strangely enough.

When I woke up from this much-needed rest, so many things came rushing back. Suddenly, without warning, I found myself bawling. And as those tears came pouring out, the chains that had sealed away my heart slowly began to loosen. I started feeling human again, I could feel my emotions for the first time in what felt like an eternity.

As soon as he saw me crying, the boy quickly came over to console me, but that just made me sob harder. I quickly discovered my new partner really was the person my brother wrote so fondly about. Blunt and a little awkward, but overall a deeply kind person and a very thoughtful partner. Despite being shackled to the Organization and forced to kill for years, he had yet to fully surrender his humanity. He did seem to be bearing a great sorrow--one far more intense than anything my brother had described. I could tell he wasn't the kind of person capable of betraying and murdering a friend to ensure his own survival.

Given my brother's letter, it wasn't hard to work out what had really happened. After making their escape, the two were backed into a corner, and their prospects were grim. Rather than both of them being killed, it was better that at least one of them survived. The only way for that to happen was for one to kill the other--to gain forgiveness in the eyes of the Organization.

My brother knew his partner would reject the idea outright, and that even if he did accept it, he would insist on playing the part of the sacrifice. I was absolutely sure of that much. That's why my brother ended up feigning betrayal in order to get his partner to fight back and ultimately kill him. It was a plan that would spare his partner's life, but also deeply scar him in only the way an unexpected betrayal could.

From that point on, being near him was the only way I was able to feel secure enough to sleep. And sleep I did, every chance I got. Midday, during our missions... If there was even the slightest opportunity, I was out like a light. After all, I needed to catch up on the year of rest I had been robbed of. It was a truly surprising turn of events for me, to say the least.

I soon learned the boy was tormented by constant nightmares. I imagined the incident with my brother played a big role. There were so many moments where I saw how he was suffering and wanted to tell him the truth. But I would always stop myself at the last second, telling myself the time wasn't right.

Our missions occasionally called for performances of a sort, to deceive onlookers. He was always pretty terrible at it. It was hard to say why exactly that was, though. His movements were fine enough, as were his facial expressions. The factory emphasized all those things in its teachings, so he had received ample instruction there. It was just that he always seemed to overdo things--or drastically underdo them. I wondered if it may have had something to do with the unshakeable seriousness he always seemed to have about him. It could be a real problem sometimes, even to the point where he would become more of a liability than an asset. Any onlooker with half a brain would be able to tell something was less than genuine about his performances. I came to the conclusion he was just naturally bad at deceiving others. That's why I had to keep my plans from him--to prevent his terrible poker face from giving us away.

He'd been earnestly working on his escape for a very long time. I, of course, understood the immense difficulty of his task, and why he had to keep it to himself. Still, it made me a bit sad that he never spoke to me about it. He was in a precarious position, given that the Organization still had its doubts about him. I wasn't about to do anything to put him at risk, of course. But his shaky acting alone could very well have led to the Organization seeing through his carefully-laid scheme. If that happened, it would be the end of him, no question about it.

The situation hadn't quite reached that point yet, but I knew it was only a matter of time before it did.

After the Halldor Baarn mission had wrapped up, I went to make my report. The man I reported to had an aura unlike anything I'd ever felt. He was the evil bastard who managed the two of us. The Organization's Overseer, the Emperor. He was the one forcing us to kill. His face was always obscured by a robe, but it failed to mask the malice that overflowed from him. That day, he had a quiet, deadly exuberance about him, like a hawk that had locked onto its prey. There was no mistaking it, I knew he had caught onto my partner. He knew he intended to betray the Organization again. I knew he would gleefully purge him when the time came and that time was getting closer with each passing day.

If that's how things were going to be, I told myself, I would just have to get ahead of them and put my own plan into motion. The Emperor's intentions were obvious. Aware of the cruel history my partner and I shared, he had made us partners in a bid to slowly push me toward revenge. He knew I'd eventually break and sell my partner out, forcing him to go through another bitter betrayal. The Emperor was looking forward to watching it all unfold. We were both tools of the Organization and the personal playthings of the Emperor's.

So I decided to give him exactly what he wanted to see.

Once I'd finished my mission report, I told the Emperor of my partner's intent to betray the Organization. I then shared my plan to lure him to a specific place, where I would then eliminate him. I gave a detailed explanation, making it as enticing as possible for the Emperor. It was easy enough to gain his consent. Even with his face hidden under his cowl, he could hardly contain the excitement in his voice over the coming slaughter.

The laugh that escaped his throat was a sound so vile, it still haunts me to this day.

Later that evening, my partner arrived at the designated location: the base of a hill deep in the mountains. At first, he was horribly shaken by the realization that he'd been betrayed again. When he learned who my brother was, though, his face changed. I watched his surprise turn to despair, which in turn shifted to absolute acceptance of his fate. To call what I saw 'heart-wrenching' didn't do it justice.

I focused my efforts on giving him the most vicious glare possible, one equal parts mocking and murderous. I came up with the foulest, most malicious things I could bear to say, trying to cut him as deep as possible. After all, the Emperor was standing right next to me, and if I was to be convincing, I couldn't afford even the slightest hesitation.

I stepped forward. I was going to eliminate him. I shifted closer to my partner, in order to facilitate my wire attacks--or so I made it appear. My true objective was to put some distance between myself and the Emperor. Once I had my wires around his neck, the battle was as good as over. From there, I knew I could end his life with the flick of a finger.

'This is the end.'

I meant those words from the bottom of my heart.

A transparent cord ran through the center of the web of wires under my control. Manipulating this cord allowed me to set off a chain reaction that twisted it into a complex spiral shape I would often use to trap distant foes during missions.

Fully focused on watching his toys in the throes of bloodthirsty vengeance, it was the Emperor who had relaxed his guard the most. Right at the climax of our battle, I seized the opportunity, and with perfect timing, I was able to ensnare the unwitting Emperor, leaving him shackled and immobile.

The key was the transparent cord. It may not have had the same cutting power as my metal wires, but it was more than twice as strong. Even so, I couldn't count on it to hold the Emperor for long.

Without a moment's delay, I summoned all my strength to pull on another cord. A low rumble sounded out, and a section of the rocky hill collapsed, dropping a torrent of rubble below. I had taken my time to find the perfect location--one with brittle bedrock that I could have break away on cue. The stones roared and tumbled in a huge wave, hurtling down toward the Emperor. In the middle of it all was a giant boulder more than 10 arge across.

Time seemed to slow as it fell directly down at the Emperor's head, the thunder of the rock slide drowning out all other sound.

Finally it all came crashing down.

The aftermath looked as though a catastrophic earthquake had just taken place. The Emperor had taken a direct hit from a massive boulder. There was no way he could have survived that. Even if he somehow had, he was now buried alive. My partner looked on in confusion, still processing what had just happened.

'S!' I cried out, finally able to use the name I preferred to call him by.

I ran over to him and buried my head in his chest. This was where I felt the most safe--by his side. I nuzzled up against him, holding him tight, never wanting to let him go. I had never hugged him before then...I had always been too afraid to do so.

'I'm so sorry I said those horrible things...' I sobbed, 'I'm sorry I couldn't tell you the truth...'

There was so much more to explain, but those were the things I wanted to say to him most. Even though he was still reeling from everything that had just happened, he was still kind enough to hold me close and try to calm me down.

'Nine, what in the world--'

Before he could finish his sentence, something I never predicted happened. The small mountain of fallen rocks and boulders shifted slightly. Pebbles began to ride up into the air. It was slow, but unmistakable.

'What's happening...?'

Dumbfounded, all we could do was look on in confusion.

'Is it some kind of space-element art? There's no way...' I mused aloud.

No, that didn't seem right. Perhaps it was some kind of device that functioned the same way as an airship's anti-gravity components? I didn't understand what was happening. I just sat there, staring blankly, my mind racing for an explanation. Before I could reach one, however, my partner spoke, his voice steeped in panic.

'That's the Overs--the Emperor's power!'

'But...that would mean...'

It meant the Emperor was still alive.

More and more rocks began floating upward, taking their place among the ever-increasing collection gently balanced in the air.

'Nine! We need to move!'

I continued to sit there, absolutely dumbfounded. Three grabbed my hand and we set off at a sprint.

We were able to cover a good amount of distance before we heard what sounded like a massive explosion behind us. We turned to see boulders and rocks of all sizes being flung upward into the sky, like a volcano erupting before our eyes.

To be continued

第６巻 ナイン

私が生まれたすぐあとに、母が死んだ。

父と兄の３人で暮らしていた。

物心がついた頃から父はひどいやつだった。
母が遺(のこ)したミラを浪費して、ろくに働きもせず、酒に溺(おぼ)れる毎日だった。
機嫌が悪いときは、よく家のなかで暴力を振るった。

私の世話は全部お兄ちゃんがしてくれた。
家のなかでも外でも、お兄ちゃんがいつも私を守ってくれた。
こんな家でも、お兄ちゃんと一緒ならやっていけると、幼い私は思った。

だけど、そんな生活はいつまでも続くことはなかった。

ミラが底をつくと、父はお兄ちゃんと私を働かせようとした。しかし年端(としは)もいかない子どもが稼げる額なんてたかが知れている。

そこで父は、あろうことかお兄ちゃんを“手放した”。そのときから、私は父のことを家族だと思わなくなった。
しかし、ほかに頼りもなく、お兄ちゃんがいつか帰ってくるかもしれないという淡(あわ)い期待を抱いて、私はあの家に残るしかなかった。

それから３年くらい過ぎた頃だろうか。ある日、お兄ちゃんからの手紙が届いた。
とても厳しい環境だけど何とか生きていると、そんなことが書かれていた。

そこに書いてある通りの方法で、私もお兄ちゃんに手紙を送れるようになった。ようやくお兄ちゃんとの繋(つな)がりを取り戻すことができて、すごく嬉しかった。

お兄ちゃんが“組織”と呼ばれているものの管理下で、無理やり人殺しの仕事をしていることを知った。文字を通して、その苦しみが痛いほど私に伝わった。

“組織”の管理が厳しくて、こうやって手紙が交(か)わせたのも、お兄ちゃんのパートナーのひとが協力してくれたおかげだそうだ。

その“パートナー”のことを、お兄ちゃんはよく手紙に書いていた。
相棒で、親友で、歳が近い弟のようなものだとか。そのひとの話のときだけ、お兄ちゃんの文章が少し暖かく感じた。

いつの間にか、私もそのひとに会ってみたいと思うようになった。
だけどお兄ちゃんとすら会えないこの状況で、それは無理なことだと分かっていた。

そんな手紙をやり取りする日々がしばらく続いた。

しかし、それも長くはなかった。
家のミラがまた尽きたのだ。今度は私の番だな、となんとなく思った。

そのことをお兄ちゃんに伝えると、それで決心がついたようで、お兄ちゃんはパートナーのひとと一緒に“組織”から逃亡することを決めた。

「必ず戻る」とか、私を「この家から助け出す」とか、そんなことばかりが綴(つづ)られた手紙の最後には、２行だけ不吉な言葉が並んでいた。

「たとえ逃亡が失敗しても、必ず相棒だけでも生かしてみせる。何かあったら、あいつを頼れ。」

それがお兄ちゃんからもらった、最後の手紙だった。

結局お兄ちゃんは戻らず、思ったとおり、私も父に“手放された”。

父は何か危険なクスリに手を出していたらしい。
恐らくそのうちにまたミラが尽き、そのときこそ、彼は身の破滅を迎えるだろう。もう私にはどうでもいいことだった。

ブローカーを介して、私も“組織”に引き渡された。

お兄ちゃんの死を知ったのは、ちょうど“養成所”にはいるときだった。

多分私は、そのときから壊れてしまったのだろう。
現実から逃げ出すように必死に訓練に身を投じた。周りのものが見えない、自分のことも見えない、“心”なんて持たない、指示をこなすだけの“人形”。

そして夜になると、亡くなったお兄ちゃんのこと、自分がひとりになったこと、これから自分の両手が血に染まっていくことを考え、恐怖に震えながら朝までの長い時間を過ごすようになった。

それでも体は休息を求めるらしく、１日１時間は眠ることができた。調子がいいときは２時間。
しかし、そのわずかな睡眠も悪夢に妨(さまた)げられることがほとんどだった。

そんな状態で１年が経ち、私は異例のはやさで“養成所”を卒業した。

そして――彼に会えた。

お兄ちゃんのパートナーだったそのひと。

一度“組織”を裏切った彼はちょうど“再教育”を終え、私とペアを組むことになった。

お兄ちゃんを殺した張本人である彼を、最初は憎(にく)むことにした。目を光らせ、全神経を尖(とが)らせて彼を監視した。

数日が経ち、張り詰めていた神経が限界を超えて切れたのか、それとも本能が“大丈夫”と判断したのか、ある日の任務のあと、私は彼のすぐそばで眠ってしまった。１年ぶりのぐっすりとした睡眠だった。

彼のそばは、お兄ちゃんと同じような安心感があったのだ。目が覚めた私は色んなことを思い出し、思わず泣いてしまった。
流した涙とともに心を縛り付けていた鎖が砕け散って、“人間の心”をようやく取り戻した気分だった。
泣きじゃくる私を彼は慌てて慰(なぐさ)めようとしたが、結局、泣き声が大きくなるだけだった。

彼はお兄ちゃんの手紙に書いてある通りのひとだった。
無愛想で、ちょっと不器用で、けれど本当は深くパートナーを気遣うことができる、優しいひと。

“組織”に束縛(そくばく)され、殺しを強要され、それでも“人間”になることを諦めない、強いひと。

ただ、手紙のなかの彼よりも、大きな悲しみを背負っている。そんな彼が、自分が生き残るためにお兄ちゃんを裏切ったとは到底思えない。

手紙に残された最後の言葉から、真実は簡単に推測できた。

逃亡し、絶体絶命のピンチに陥(おちい)ったお兄ちゃんと彼。
ふたりとも殺されるより、ひとりだけでも生き残ったほうがいい。
片方がもう片方を殺せば、それが可能だ。

だけどそんな提案をしても、きっと彼は認めないだろう。
認めたとしても、自分のほうが死ぬと言い出すにちがいない。
だからお兄ちゃんは彼を不意打ちし、彼を裏切るフリをした。
彼に自分を殺させることで、彼を生かした。

いちばん信じていたひとに裏切られたという大きな心の傷を与えて……ひどいひとだね、お兄ちゃんは。

それから、彼のそばが私にとっていちばん安心できる場所になった。

まるで１年分の睡眠を取り戻すかのように、昼間だろうと、任務中だろうと、機会があるたびに、私は彼のそばで眠った。
彼によく呆(あき)れられたものだ。しかし当の彼がいつも悪夢にうなされていたことを私は知っている。その原因のひとつに、お兄ちゃんとのことが大きく関わっているのだろう。

彼の苦しむ姿を見て、私は何度も彼に真実を告げようとした。

でもだめ！　まだその時ではない！

彼は……演技が下手だったのだ。“養成所”でそういう訓練もあったから、別に動作や表情づくりが下手なわけではない。
ただ、変にまじめなところがあるせいか、度が過ぎたり、逆に足りなかったりすることがよくある。
勘の鋭(するど)い相手には簡単にバレてしまうのだ。きっと生まれつきひとを騙(だま)すのが苦手な性分なのだろう。だから、まだ彼に私のことを話すわけにはいかない。

彼はずっと前から逃走の準備をしていた。
仕方ないとはいえ、私に声を掛けてくれなかったのは少し寂しかった。

でも問題はそこではない。“組織”が彼を疑(うたが)っていることこそが問題なのだ。

もちろん私は彼が不利になるような報告はしないけど、その心許ない演技が“組織”に見破られてしまえばどうしようもない。
まだ決定的な綻(ほころ)びになっていないはずだけど、それも時間の問題だろう。

ハルドル・バールン暗殺の報告を終えた際。私の目の前にいた男は、いつもとは明らかにちがう雰囲気を発していた。

その男こそ“管理人”――皇帝(ザ・エンペラ―)。私たちを管理し、人殺しを強制するいわゆる悪の親玉というやつだ。
いつもローブで顔を隠しているけど、その禍々(まがまが)しい気配までは隠しきれていない。

今のエンペラーは、まるで獲物を見つけた鷹(たか)のように静かに興奮している。
間違いない！　エンペラーは彼の裏切りを確信している！

おそらくすぐにでも彼を殺すつもりだろう……それなら、こちらの作戦を実行するまで。私にお兄ちゃんのことを伝えたうえで彼と組ませたエンペラーの意図は明白だ。
私に復讐心を抱かせること、彼を嵌(は)めて告発すること、彼にふたたび絶望を味あわせること、そして――自分がそれを観て楽しむこと。

私たちは“組織”の道具であると同時に、エンペラーのおもちゃでもあるのだ。
だったら望み通りにしてやる――

報告を終え、パートナーに叛意(はんい)があることをエンペラーに伝える。
さらに私が場所と時間を指定し、彼を誘(おび)き出し、殺すまでの段取りをエンペラーに話し承諾を得る。

ローブの下に隠された顔は依然として見えないが、その言葉の端(はし)に漏れ出す愉悦(ゆえつ)の響きを私は聞き逃さなかった。

夕方、彼は私が指定した山奥の丘にやって来た。

突然の裏切りの告発に彼はひどく動揺し、さらにお兄ちゃんと私の関係を伝えたことで、その顔に驚愕と絶望と諦念(ていねん)が入り混じった。

彼のそんな表情を見ると私も悲しくなる。

それでも、嘲(あざけ)りと憎しみと殺意を込めた視線を彼に向け、悪意に満ちた言葉で彼の心を傷つける。
隣にいるエンペラーを騙(だま)すには、わずかの躊躇(ちゅうちょ)も許されない。

彼を攻撃するため、前に出る。

さらに鋼糸の攻撃を仕掛けるため、接近する。
だが本当の意図はエンペラーから距離を取ることにあった。

力ない反撃を受け流し、呆気なく彼に王手をかける。
鋼糸の輪が彼の首にかかり、勝負が決する。あとはほんの少し力を入れれば、彼の命が終わる。

指を動かし、声を上げる。

「これで、終わりよ」

演技ではない、本気の声。

普通の鋼糸(こうし)のなかに混じった透明の糸が私の動きに応じ、収束する。
木々を伝い、遠くで複雑な幾何学模様を成した糸が瞬く間に輪を作り、その中心にいる獲物を縛り上げる。

――おもちゃが殺される瞬間を目に焼き付けようとして、周囲への警戒心が緩んだ状態のエンペラーを。

「ぐぅっっ――――」

最良のタイミングで仕掛けた不意打ちが見事にエンペラーを束縛した。

この透明色の糸は切断力がさほどあるわけではないが、この糸でなければ木々を伝うトリックも完成しなかった。
強度だけなら鋼糸の数倍はあるが、それでもエンペラー相手にいつまで持つか分からない。
すかさず私は用意したほかの糸を思い切り引く。

するとゴゴゴゴ……という低い音が響き、丘の岩が崩れはじめる。
前からこの辺りで岩盤が脆(もろ)いところを探し、細工(さいく)しておいたのだ。

落石が群れを成して転がり落ちる。なかにひとつ、直径10アージュを超える巨大な岩があった。
それが正確にエンペラーの頭上目掛けて “ズゴオオンッ” という轟音と地響きとともに、落下した。
落石が落ち着き、現場はまるで地震のあとのような惨状(さんじょう)だった。

あんな質量の直撃を受けたエンペラーはさすがにもう生きてはいないだろう。死んでいないとしても、生き埋めだ。
隣にいた彼はまだ事態を理解できないのか、ポカンとした表情のまま立ち尽くしている。

「すーちゃん～～」

ようやく本来の呼びかたで彼を呼び、そして思いっきり彼の胸に飛び込む。
私がいちばん安心できる場所。頭をこすりつけたまま離れない。
ここまで甘えるのはさすがに初めてだ……だって、本当に怖かったんだから。

「色々ひどいこと言って、ごめんね……黙ってて、ごめんね……」

説明しなければいけないことはたくさんあるけど、とりあえずこれだけは伝えたかった。まだ状況を掴めていない彼は、それでも優しく私の頭を撫でてくれた。

「ナイン、一体どういう――」

その質問の言葉が終わらないうちに、異変が起きた。
落石の山がわずかに振動し、そして小さな石が、ゆっくりだけど――空中に浮かんだ。

「なっ！？」

目を瞠(みは)る私たち。

「空属性のアーツ？　いや……」

それとはちがうような気がする……それとも飛行船と同じ飛翔機関だろうか？
わからない……思索(しさく)を巡(めぐ)らしているなか、彼は厳しい声で言った。

「あれは、“管理人”の……エンペラーの能力だ！」

「えっ？」

思わず息をのむ。
それが意味するところは、エンペラーがまだ生きている、ということ。
そうしているうちに、さらに多くの石が浮かんでいく。

「逃げるぞ！　ナイン！」

彼が呆然(ぼうぜん)とした私の手を引き、走り出す。

かなりの距離を走ったあと、大きな爆発音につられて振り返る。

そこでは、まるで火山が噴火したかのように、巨大な岩が空高く噴き上がっていた……

TO BE CONTINUED