Richesse/Memories

## Chapter 1

I was a war orphan in a country full of civil wars.

Nothing really out of the ordinary.

Even so, I refuse to live just whining about how terrible my life is.

All I know is the battlefield, and that's why I *know* there are things I can do.

Like, be a battlefield merchant.

Having a merchant on the battlefield would save many lives.

I've witnessed many that *would've* been saved if they just had resources.

...If someone seeks help, deliver what they need.

No matter where they are.

That's my golden rule.

## Chapter 2

Some time ago, I ventured into a remote region.

It was terrible to see.

War left the land with nothing but scars.

My hometown was the same, when a lack of supplies left us defenseless...

But, something was different here. Just when I thought this place had been completely wiped out,

I found survivors...each of them with unique weapons.

Those weapons were enhanced with magic—specially crafted to protect their wielders rather than kill an enemy.

*They* are what saved the village.

It was my first time seeing weapons like those.

I eventually found myself wanting to meet the one who made them, and began my search.

I also had requests from the village children to take care of, after all.

Waiting for me at the end of my search was a blacksmith.

But, her eyes were full of darkness, and her heart tightly locked away.

## Chapter 3

"...Many are dead because of a weapon I made."

After saying that, Artie knocked my hand away.

Ah, I see what's happened. This girl's broken.

The way I see it though, as someone who's known war their entire life, death was inevitable.

That's why I might not be able to truly understand the despair she's feeling. But...

Her weapons undoubtedly saved lives. I've seen firsthand just how many lives weapons that protect have saved.

I grasped Artie's hands. Those heroic hands that saved the lives of many.

Then, I held out the sword and letters that those children entrusted to me to deliver.

"Thanks to this sword, everyone survived. Here's your proof."

## Chapter 4

"Thank you for saving my life..."

That was one of many messages in this bundle of letters.

What started off as only one letter quickly grew as I went from battlefield to battlefield.

"There's one letter for each life you've saved."

Hearing those words, Artie broke down in tears.

I saw how tiny her back was. It was so fragile and gentle.

No one would believe she'd tried to bear the weight of other people's lives on it.

She needs someone to support her. Just like a sword has a sheath, a sharp blade needs something to protect it.

Yes—a partner.

From this point on, I'll help bear the weight you carry. Your sins, your pain—*everything*.

I held my hand out to Artie, and this time, she firmly took hold of it.

Since then, I became Artie's personal merchant, and the two of us set up shop together.

Come to think of it, that was the beginning.

The beginning of the unstoppable duo—the genius blacksmith and the invincible merchant!

## Chapter 5

One day, I happened to hear a rumor.

One about an evil sword.

It's said to be a murderous sword, created by Artie with the purpose of destroying lives.

Apparently it's raging out of control, striking down anything in its path.

No regular weapon's powerful enough to destroy that evil sword. It's gotta be one augmented with even *more* magic power.

Still filled with regret, Artie was trying to pour all of her magic power into a weapon like some kind of punishment.

But, there was no way I was gonna let her do that.

"If that's what needs to be done, my power is yours to use, partner."

I took Artie by the hand.

"We're partners. My power is yours, and your sins are mine."

"Besides, the two of us now have *much* more power than you had when you were alone then."

"We'll quell that evil sword, and restore peace..."

"Together, we'll turn our hopes into a power that'll bring that destructive sword and our sins to an end."

## Chapter 6

Our creation was draped in two colors of light.

It was magic sword, and the spirits of Artie and me made it shine brilliantly...

Now, we have a chance...!

We quickly made our way to the ruins of the battlefield where the evil sword was rumored to be.

When we saw the crater, and smelled the stench of death, we *knew* it was there.

Its ominous glow looked as though it was swarming with the regrets of every victim it had claimed...

This...is a weapon? It's more like a monster...

No—now's *not* the time to be scared!

Suddenly, Artie took my hand into her own. The sound of her warm heartbeat begins to drown out my fear and anxiety.

That's right. The two of us are one.

We will *never* be broken!

## Chapter 7

We took one look at each other before charging towards the evil sword.

The holy radiance of our blade tears the ominous power asunder.

As the evil sword crumbled away, its ominous glow vanished as if being pulled into the heavens.

We did it. We destroyed the sword.

As I sighed in relief, Artie threw her arms around me from behind.

With tears welling in her eyes, she said to me...

"Thank you, Richesse. And, I'm sorry for dragging you into this."

It looks like she doesn't quite get it yet.

"There's no way I wasn't gonna help you. We're partners after all. We share sins, pain—*everything*."

"I'll help you carry the burdens that are too heavy for you to carry alone."

"That's why, if there's ever a time *I'm* in trouble, you better be sure to help me too, okay partner? Hehe."