Leonie - Prince of Oz - Sun End

Leonie - Prince of Oz - Sun End

Chapter 6 - In the Dark Castle

After being attacked by the mysterious doll soldier, I managed to get away from the small room, but... I couldn't see Leonie, who ran away earlier, at all. 

MC: Leonie! Where did you go?

When I searched for him within the castle, the curtain of night had fallen before I knew it. In the dark empty castle hallways, only the sounds of something ominous were heard occassionally. 

(I'm scared... But, I need to hurry and find Leonie...) 

......

After wandering around the castle searching for him... 

Leonie: ...Uu... It's... It's all because I don't have any courage...!

MC: Leonie!? 

At the end of the castle hallway, I found Leonie, who has shrunken down while trembling. 

Leonie: ...MC...? 

He nervously said my name. That was the incident that happened deep within the dark castle... 

Chapter 7 - If Only I Had Courage

In the dark castle hallway, a somewhat melancholic atmosphere was drifting... Within it, when I found Leonie, who had disappeared, I ran over to him.

MC: Leonie, are you okay...? I was worried when you disappeared so suddenly. 

Although, as Leonie has shriveled up completely, he shrunk down in place as he was muttering repeatedly. 

Leonie: ...If only I had... Uu... If only I had courage... 

MC: Leonie...

Leonie: ...

MC: Hey, Leonie!

Leonie: ...Eh? 

When I hit his shoulder as I called out to him loudly, he finally looked up. His face was strained in fear like a small animal that was scared of something. 

Leonie: W-What... Did you come to laugh at me because I'm a coward? 

MC: No, but... Right now, nothing will change, even if you have courage... 

Leonie: W-What do you mean! That's not true, if I had gotten back the courage that I lost, I would've...!

As he bit his lip bitterly, Leonie narrowed his eyes. 

Leonie: Or maybe, are you saying that it's impossible to reclaim courage? 

MC: That's not what I'm saying... Courage isn't something that people can retrieve. 

Leonie: ...But, Oswald... 

Just as he said that uneasily, he shrunk down again.

MC: Yes... I'm not sure if you obtained anything back then, but... 

(How can I get through to Leonie?) 

As I gripped my chest, I chose my words carefully from my shapeless thoughts. 

MC: It might be possible that you haven't obtained anything, but courage is-

At that moment. 

Leonie: !? 

When Leonie sensed something, he turned toward the courtyard with a sharp gaze. 

MC: What's wrong...? 

Leonie: There's... something!

MC: Eh!? Could it be from earlier...

As I froze from fear, I took a step back. Although, there was a cold marble wall behind me, so I couldn't run off this time. 

(What do we do...!) 

I looked around in a panic. As Leonie's legs were only shaking in fear, he looked at the courtyard that's in an everlasting darkness. At that moment... 

Doll Soldier: ...!!

The doll soldier from before was in a line formation and showed it's face from the courtyard as it moved oddly. They approached us as they made weird sounds that made them sound like a broken machine. Meanwhile, one of them raised it's hand greatly from within the darkness. 

MC: ...! Leonie, run!

Leonie: MC!? 

Our shouts echoed loudly among the castle at night... 

Last Chapter - Courage Arising

The eerie night easily diminished our shouts. Just as I saw a doll soldier raising it's hand, my body moved on it's own. 

MC: Ow... 

Leonie: MC!? Why... would you do something like that!? 

MC: ...I-I'm okay... It's just a light scratch...

After sacrificing myself to protect him from the doll soldier's attack, there was some blood on my arm as it was slightly flowing down. 

Leonie: No way... You... You did that for me... Even though I'm nothing without courage...!

MC: Leonie...? 

When he said that in a deep tone that I've never heard before, I looked up at him.

Leonie: How dare you... How dare you do that to MC...!

As Leonie held me in his arms, I saw something burning in his eyes. 

(This look in his eyes is...) 

That look in his eyes was so beautiful that I reached out to him without thinking. Leonie held my hand tightly with his warm one. 

Leonie: Sorry, MC... I realized what you were saying to me. That's why...!

When he placed me behind him to protect me from the doll soldier, he looked straight at the large crowd that was approaching. 

Leonie: UWAAAAHH!!

His beastlike roar echoed throughout the area. 

Leonie: I won't let you... lay a hand on MC!

Just as he raised his right hand high, he recklessly struck down the doll soldier that injured me with his fist. 

Doll Soldier: ...!? 

When the doll soldier's back got smashed, it's entire body turned into scarp as it crumbled down to the ground. After seeing that, the remaining doll soldiers started making a commotion and were about to run off in a panic. Although... 

Leonie: I won't let you!! I will protect MC...! I may not have courage and I may be weak, but for this castle and the townspeople... I will protect them!!

Leonie quickly blocked the doll soldiers' way of escape and raised his fist once more. One, then two, Leonie swung his fists many times as he took down the doll soldiers. 

Doll Soldier: ...!? 

At that moment, the last one that lost it's way out charged towards Leonie. 

MC: Leonie, behind you!

Leonie: Haaaaa!!

When Leonie turned around as soon as I said that, he struck the doll soldier with a strong punch the next moment. 

Leonie: MC... MC!!

After taking out the doll soldier, Leonie ran up to me. Even now, he looked like he was about to cry with his eyes all teary. 

MC: Leonie... 

To show my appreciation, I hugged his back that was trembling a little. It was hard to believe that Leonie's back was gradually trembling despite how courageous he was just now. 

(I'm sure that he was scared, but he was able to bring out his courage...) 

MC: ...Thank you. 

Leonie: I was desperate... Because I wanted to protect you no matter what... 

MC: Yes, your courage... It was really cool. 

Leonie: Eh... My courage...? 

MC: Yes, you had courage within you from the start, Leonie. 

Leonie: I... see. 

MC: Yes.

Instead of blaming something, he looked at me with a troubled look in his eyes in front of me. I felt like telling him that his heart was true courage in return. 

Leonie: Thank you, it's thanks to you that courage was brought out of me.

He said that as he hugged me in return. At that moment... The fallen doll soldier that was right behind him emitted smoke as it popped a little. 

Leonie: Uwaaah!? 

MC: I-It's okay. 

As soon as Leonie jumped up, he became frightened and hugged me again. In a blind spot of his, s single sheet of paper fluttered down as it got mixed in with the smoke. 

(...? There's something written on it...) 

When I picked up the piece of paper and looked at it... 

"Dear Leonie,

While you were gone, I had these doll soldiers watching over the castle♪

-Oswald"

(This is... a letter from Oswald-san? Then, these dolls are... But, I wonder if I shouldn't tell him about this now...) 

Leonie: W-W-WHAT THE HELL!!

Unaware of what was written in the letter, Leonie frantically clung onto me. 

MC: It's okay... It's okay.

While praising him for the courage that finally arose a little... I continued stroking his back that might get bigger from here on for a long time... 

Main Story

Moon End