Sunshine Agnès/Chapter 13

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|-|English=Chapter 13 - The Magician
The man, enrobed in magical power, grew increasingly maniacal. 'Things have been so very hard for me since obtaining this power, you know. Holding back the urge to torment, to make the light leave the eyes of others and enjoy every moment of it! I just can't help myself... It's your power that makes me feel this way! You blasted magicians are to blame!'
The dark energy rushed from his body and washed over the cemetery with the fury of a hurricane, eradicating the tombstones in its path as it steered a course toward Agnès. Then, the shout of a young man cut through the gale.
'You're wrong!'
Against all odds, Edwin stood between the attacker and his prey, with his singed coat around his shoulders and his trusty messenger bag in his outstretched hands.
'Everyone knows that the one who does the deed is the one at fault. Don't go blaming this on magic when you don't even understand it!'
Moonlit confetti dotted the scene, floating gently in the air. It was the torn remnants of Ed's manuscript. He had somehow blocked the black magic with his bag. Agnès, who had just been resigned to her fate, wore a baffled expression.
'E-Edwin?! You're safe... How?!'
Edwin pointed his thumb at his chest and grinned. 'How many times do I have to tell you? Never underestimate a righteous reporter!'
Agnès had so many things she wanted to say, but in that moment, she was simply at a loss for words.
'I'm going to beat you down, Montaigne! And after that, you're going to give me a post-fight interview!'
'D-Don't screw with me, boy! How did that raggedy bag stop my magic?! How are you even alive in the first place?!' Edwin responded by rushing forward without hesitation.
'Ah, geez!' Agnès thought. Still, that was the Edwin she knew. Always true to himself. A crusader to the very end.
Even now, Edwin didn't completely believe in magic. He wasn't even able to see any of Montaigne's twisted powers. But he wasn't going to rule it out as impossible or write it off as some kind of curse. He would piece the truth together himself, bit by bit. That was just the sort of boy Edwin was--recklessness and all.
'Kagemaru!'
The black cat, who was clinging to the backside of Ed's worn-out bag, had been the one who actually negated the dark mage's spell. He fixed his jet-black pupils on Agnès, as if to say, 'Are you sure about this?'
'I am. I don't want to lie to him anymore. I'll show him the truth: the real me,' Agnès thought back.
She looked up into the night sky.
'It's a full moon tonight...'
Although there was no wind to move them, Agnès' cream-blonde curls danced about as her arms erupted with rays of light, illuminating the darkness.
|-|Japanese=第13回　魔法使い
魔力を放ったモンテニューはますます酔っていた。この力を得てからというもの、もう本当に本当に大変なのさ。誰かを苦しめたくて苦しめたくて、殺したくて殺したくて、ああ楽しくて楽しくて仕方がない！「私にそうさせたのはこの力だぞ？
これもすべて、の所業だよ！」―黒き力は疾風の速さで墓地を駆け抜け、墓石を切り裂き、アニエスの体へ向かってきて炸裂した。少年の怒声とともに。
「んなワケないだろッッ！！」エドウィンが立っていた。焼けこげがついたコートを羽織って、手には愛用のボロカバンを持っている。
「悪いことする奴が悪いに決まってるだろ！！魔法なんて得体のしれねー物のせいにしてんじゃねーッ！！」辺り一面には、月光を浴びた紙ふぶきが舞っている。見るとそれは細切れになったエドの原稿で、黒い力を受け止めたらしいズタズタのボロカバンからこぼれ出ている。……これにはもう、観念していたアニエスだって目をまん丸にするしかなかった。
「……エ、エドウィンっ！？どうしてっ……無事だったのっ……！？」
「おいアニエス、忘れたのかよ。俺はいつも言ってるだろ？」困ったらいつでも呼べ！　俺は正義の記者なんだからな！！　そういって親指でクイクイと自分を指してみせるエドウィンは、なんだか初めてサマになっているけれど、言いたいことがありすぎてアニエスは言葉が出てこなかった。
「というわけだから、今からお前をぶっ飛ばす！取材はそれからさせて貰うぜ、モンテニュー！！」
「ふ、ふざけるなああっっっ！！そんなボロカバンで……　……そもそも何故生きているッ！？」
エドウィンは止める間もなく突っ込んでいく。ああもう！！　アニエスは思った。でもそれがエドウィンだ。いつも真っ直ぐで、自分の気持ちに正直だ。
エドはきっと、魔法のことを完全に信じてるわけじゃない。今だって絶対、あの禍々しい力はこれっぽっちも見えていない。でも「ありえない」とか「呪われた力だ」なんて決め付けないで、１つ１つゆっくりと納得のいく真実を知っていこうとするのだろう。……エドウィンはそういう男の子だ、いつもむちゃくちゃだけど。
「――カゲマルッ！！」
さっきの黒い力の奔流を実はボロカバンの裏に張り付いて防いでいたカゲマルは、漆黒の瞳を向けて尋ねてくる。ホントにいいの？
いいの、これ以上エドに嘘をつくのはいやだから。自分の本当の姿を見てほしいから。
アニエスは空を見上げた。……今夜は満月だ。
風もないのにクリーム色の髪がくるくると踊って、少女の２つのから昭光が放たれた。</tabber>
Category:Trails to Azure Books