Chapter 25: Everyone Will Love a Brave and Devoted Heroine

[Brave]

This term describes someone with a strong and resolute spirit. It particularly refers to the courage of weaker individuals, such as children, facing difficulties head-on.

While it can also describe valiant, resilience, or good health, most people likely associate "Brave" with the first meaning.

As evidenced by terms like the underdog effect or sympathy for the underdog, the desire to support the weak, the losers, and those who lack resources exists in human nature throughout history and across cultures.

Perhaps for this reason, the attribute of "Brave" enjoys enduring popularity in creative works. While many people have a positive impression of a brave heroine, it's rare to find someone with a negative impression.

Of course, preferences vary, and it shouldn't be generalized, but the frequent appearance of "brave" heroines in romance-themed works across various media seems to be one indicator of this.

Incidentally, the word "brave" is often followed by "devoted".

Everyone likes someone who is devoted to them wholeheartedly, so it can't be helped.

As you can see from the meanings mentioned earlier, the word "brave" is strongly linked to the word "weak."

However, in this case, "weak" doesn't just refer to ability or status. For example, not all brave heroines are physically weak. On the contrary, there are heroines described as brave who are quite capable.

So, what makes us, people like us, describe these characters as brave?

What makes them brave heroines?

I think what makes a brave heroine brave is her weakness in love.

Thinking of the other person before oneself, prioritizing the other person's happiness over one's own—that is undoubtedly a virtue and something that deserves praise.

However, in matters involving competition with others, such as love, it can also be seen as a weakness or a cause of defeat.

Because she puts the other person first, she may hesitate to take the necessary steps, and if that's what the other person wants, she may even suppress her own feelings and support their relationship with someone else. 

In fictional romances, sometimes referred to as the "heroine race," this altruistic spirit can be considered a fatal weakness.

Yet, even knowing this, they still simply wish for the happiness of the person they love, suffering and sometimes even feeling jealous.

But even then, they bravely do everything in their power for the smile of the person they adore.

Even if it means getting hurt, they don't give up and continue to think of the other person.

To me, this is both a weakness and proof of the strength to choose that path.

They pour all their energy into things that may not be rewarded, sometimes even to the point of strangling themselves.

To put it harshly, a devoted heroine is incredibly inefficient, irrational, and foolish.

But that's precisely why we're moved by them, and why we fall in love with them—I assert this with certainty!

Even if it means getting hurt, even if their efforts are unrequited, they continue to think of the other person.

It's so easy to say, yet so incredibly difficult to do.

It's natural for everyone to not want to get hurt, and not want their efforts to be wasted; there's nothing wrong with that.

But these women overcome that naturalness to love someone.

People seek, desire, and admire what they lack.

These women are weak, inefficient, irrational, and foolish.

But how many people can do all this for love?

Most people can't, and as I've said many times, that's not strange, it's natural.

That's precisely why they deeply touch our hearts. 

A heroine who is both weak and strong—such a contradictory being—is what we call a brave heroine, and it is this contradiction that we respectfully bestow upon her the word "Brave."

Anyway, putting aside all that trivial stuff, what I really want to say is...

'I love stories where someone faces a far superior opponent with a desperate resolve, even though they know they can't win, all for the sake of the person they love.

And it's perfect if there's some kind of happy ending afterward!'

★★★

A dense forest that seemed to cover even the sky. A deep forest that, if not partially cleared by an Anomaly, would block even the sunlight.

Within this forest, two dark figures clash.

One is Chiharu, leaping at high speed through the trees, attacking his target from all directions, regardless of the sky or ground. His movements through the trees are so lightning-fast they are almost imperceptible to the eye, like flashes of lightning on the ground.

The other is a supernatural entity clad in black armor, known as Kikoku, which naturally parries Chiharu's lightning-fast assault. Having absorbed the opposing Yin energy, its physical form as an Anomaly is beginning to waver. Its power is undoubtedly diminished compared to its former self.

Yet, this is the body of someone once called a hero.

The way it effortlessly deflects Chiharu's attacks—which should be exploiting its blind spots as he leaps around—with a single swing reveals no trace of that former glory.  

Just as the earth remains unharmed no matter how much lightning strikes, there's no way to stand a chance.

This is a momentary stalemate.

The difference in what they're risking in this single instant—Chiharu, who's launching a suicide attack without regard for his own body, and Kikoku, who's operating as usual—is what's making this miracle possible.

"Gaaah—!"

Physical strength, skill, and spirit. In all three aspects, Kikoku clearly surpasses Chiharu. No matter how weakened he may be, the difference between them won't be easily overcome. Rather, it could even be said that Chiharu's ability to put up such a great fight at this age is extraordinary.

"—Hyah!!"

With a fierce shout, he unleashed yet another sword strike, the countless times he'd done so.

Chiharu was constantly on the offensive against the Anomaly.

No, he had to keep attacking.

By continuing to attack, he was defending against the Anomay's attacks, and that's how this battle continued. If he were to loosen his grip for even a moment, if he were to stop moving, the boy's short life would end with a single sword strike from the being that had turned on the offensive.

Therefore, even though he knew that what awaited him at the end of his life would be to become the same kind of being as the monster that stood on the ground, sword in hand, effortlessly parrying his own surprise attacks, the boy could not stop.

It was a repetition of the previous battle.

And the outcome would be the same.

The boy would exert all his strength to survive and protect, and his body would be filled with Yang energy.

He would become that.

He would become that monster. 

The boy would become what he once was.

"Chiharu!"

—That is, if the boy were fighting alone.

"GRAAAA!"

The attack from behind clearly slowed the creature's movements, and its groans echoed through the forest. The boy didn't miss this opportunity.

"—Hyaah!"

The boy's blow, slipping through the barrier-like protection the monster had formed with its sword, finally reached the creature.

Small, shallow.

A wound so small it could never possibly slay the monster.

Yet, it was a definite wound etched into the monster by the boy.

A definite achievement that the boy alone could not have accomplished.

The boy, the Solar, wasn't fighting alone; the girl, his Lunar, riding the Kasha, was by his side.

"Hii-san! Keep keeping the monster at bay from behind. If I can keep suppressing it with my Yin energy, it will lessen Chiharu's burden."

"I'll manage somehow, in the name of Kasha! But are you alright, Young Miss?!"

"I'm fine. Chiharu's Yang energy is helping me. And vice versa."

The Moon and the Sun. 

The Lunar and the Solar.

Because they cannot possess opposing energies, they are burdened with the chronic affliction of being consumed by their own energy.

A deviation that defy the laws of this world.

Normally, it's almost impossible for them to meet. Many Lunar die shortly after birth, and many Solar cannot survive as humans.

However, at this very moment, the Lunar and the Solar meet.

And a miracle occurs: they join hands, complementing each other.

"Chiharu!"

"Chitose!"

The girl's body, which should have stopped due to the Yin energy, continued to beat as usual. Her body, too, regenerated at an extraordinary speed.

The boy, whose body should have been excessively sensitive due to the Yang energy, remained calm, and his eyes still held the light of a young boy.

The Lunar and the Solar.

A deviation that unable to achieve the harmony of Yin and Yang that should be natural.

However, in this place, the boy and girl perfectly harmonized Yin and Yang as a pair, existing together.

Beings that almost cannot possess a corresponding energy—that is the Lunar and the Solar.

But the boy and girl found their counterparts.

They found their own Solar, their own Lunar.

A pair.

That is the existence of Onjōji Chitose and Chiharu.

Therefore, the boy and girl stand side by side before the Anomaly. Before the Anomaly that has lost its counterpart, accompanied by their own counterpart.

"Anomalies are the ultimate fate of someone; perhaps you had a reason to become one too. But even so, I will stop you. I will stop you, who can no longer stop yourself!"

"I don't really understand that kind of thing. But, to protect Chitose, I will cut you down!"

"Graaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!"

The energies of the three intensified.

One possessed the complementary energies of Yin and Yang, while the other was simply a raging, unrestrained Yang energy.

Those who were accompanied by their partners and those who had lost their partners.

Those who lived in the present and those who lived in the past.

These two, along with one, clashed once again.

★★★

Below me, Chiharu and the armored warrior monster were clashing swords. I couldn't even follow Chiharu's figure with my eyes; all I could barely perceive were the tremors and sounds caused by her kicking the ground and trees.

In contrast to Chiharu's relentless, all-encompassing attacks, the monster remained calm and composed, receiving them with composure.

The way it intercepted each of Chiharu's attacks from all directions was so awe-inspiring that even I, who knows nothing of combat or martial arts, was amazed.

However, cracks were beginning to appear in its defense.

The primary cause of this was undoubtedly my Lady, Onjōji Chitose-sama.

From the back of the Kasha, constantly circling behind the monster, she repeatedly infused it with her Yin energy. Even at this very moment.

A Yang Anomaly is immortal because it can only possess Yang energy. For such a being, Yin energy is both something to be sought and a poison that will destroy it. To be hit with that much energy is undoubtedly a fatal blow to any Anomaly.

Normally, it wouldn't be possible for one person to emit this much Yin energy.

If one person tried to generate enough Yin energy to balance out a Yang Anomaly, their body would surely not survive.

However, Chitose-sama's constitution is that of Lunar, and the existence of Chiharu, the Solar, which complements it, is what makes this situation possible.

Of course, the presence of Hii-chan, who is a Kasha, is also very important.

It is because of Hii-chan's mobility that the Anomaly cannot easily launch an attack on Chitose-sama. And the existence of Chiharu goes without saying.

And what about me?

What have I done?

At best, I only managed to stop Chitose-sama's bleeding in a clumsy way.

Even now, I'm just holding Chitose-sama's hand and doing nothing.

...It was the same when Chiharu attacked Chitose-sama earlier.

At that time, I should have shielded her with my own body. But instead, Chitose-sama shielded me...!

It was fortunate that she had the shikigami given by Moritsugu-sama with her, otherwise Chitose-sama's life would have been lost.

The same goes for the treatment after that. It was Ayame-sensei's medicine that saved Chitose-sama, not my treatment. 

I was just there.

I'm an attendant, yet I....

"Thank you, Sakura."

".....What are you saying? I didn't do anything..."

"That's not true. You're still holding my hand like this. So tightly, right by my side, so that I won't go anywhere."

"That's not true... All I could do was.... be by your side."

".... Maybe this isn't the time to say this, but I don't think that's all it is. Because I'm being helped so much by you right now, Sakura. You say you're just being by my side, you say that's all it is, but to me, that's incredibly, incredibly helpful. It's been that way ever since the first time we met."

"Chitose-sama..."

"So, Sakura, I have a request. Hold my hand, hold it tighter, tighter, and tighter. So that I can become stronger, so that I can help Chiharu. Please help me, Sakura, like you always do."

..... Am I an idiot? 

I should have understood that I was an immature person, that I wasn't special.

Yet, why was I so arrogant, getting depressed thinking I was useless compared to others?

I'm such an idiot!

I am Hojo Sakura. The youngest daughter of the Hojo family, and a lady-in-waiting to Onjōji Chitose-sama.

'Therefore, do what you must do!

Don't regret what you can't do, but think about what you can do.

I am not expected to hang my head...!'

"I understand. Chitose-sama, I will always be by your side."

"Thank you, Sakura. That's truly reassuring."

I grasped Chitose-sama's hand. Tightly, so that it would never slip away. Strongly, so that I would never let go, no matter what.

I wrapped both my hands around the hand of my beloved Lady.

★★★

Through the combined efforts of Onjōji Chitose and Chiharu, the Anomaly was gradually but surely being cornered.

However, the exhaustion of the two could not be ignored, and whatever the outcome, the conclusion was not far off.

The battle was about to move into its final phase.

(Ahhhhhhhhh! It's too precious!!! Sakura-chan is so cute when she's overwhelmed by her feelings of powerlessness!

But even so, Sakura-chan holds Chitose-chan's hand, she's a true best friend!!

It's okay, Sakura-chan!

Being useful in some special way isn't everything. Even if you're not directly useful at this moment, you are definitely someone Chitose-chan needs!!!)

....... The battle was about to enter its final phase!!!