Nero - Prince of Circo - Moon End

Nero - Prince of Circo - Moon End

Chapter 7 - Just a Little Bit More

While I was worried about Nero and the children, I ended up going to the place that they were planning to visit. 

MC: Then...

Just as I was finding it hard to part from him, Nero spoke up... 

Nero: MC... If you'd like...

Just as Nero was speaking, he turned his gaze away and spoke.

Nero: Everyone in the troupe seemed happy with you around. So... Won't you come join us for a bit? 

MC: ...!

Nero's words made my heart noisy. 

MC: With you... Really? 

Nero: That's not what I'm saying.

MC: Nero...

While feeling a little shy, he wouldn't look at me in the eye... Nero softly held my hand reservedly. 

Nero: You don't want to? 

MC: No, I'd be glad to. 

Nero: ...

Nero's cheeks turned red. His closed lips slightly moved again... Then... 

Nero: I can't stand adults. But... ...If I become an adult... more with you... 

MC: Eh...? 

Just as I was about to ask him to repeat what he said softly... 

Nero: ...It's nothing. 

When Nero showed an embarrassed look for the first time, he said that... 

Chapter 8 - Betrayal

I have decided to stay with the circus troupe that Nero was leading for a while right now, but even when I'm staying here, the circus continues to raise it's curtains. Although, over there was... 

Guard: Everyone, quiet! Gather the group and bring them here.

A large group of guards and a high-ranked looking man entered the circus tent. 

Member 1: Kyah!

Member 2: W-What!? 

The children became surprised by the sudden turn of events and the ones that were beginning to cry ran off. 

Nero: What are you doing...!

When Nero was about to stop the guards in anger, his strength alone wasn't enough and he ended up getting pushed back. 

Man: We were informed that you are in possession of a dangerous medicine. It has come to our attention that you are a threat to our kingdom. We are putting you under investigation. 

MC: ...!? 

Nero: What...! Hey, stop...!

The guards took hold of the scared children and Nero. 

(What should I do! This is bad...)

Nero: We don't have anything like that! Don't step into our domain!

Man: It's pointless to deceive us. Your doctor friend told us everything. 

Nero: Eh...? 

Man: That doctor was trying to sell an "elixir of youth" in our kingdom. When we questioned him on where he got the suspicious medicine from, he told us that you were the mastermind. 

Nero: ...!? That guy did? That can't be...!

(No way...) 

MC: You're wrong!

I shouted that. 

MC: You're wrong about Nero, please let us talk to the doctor that was selling the medicine!

Man: It's pointless. But... If the medicine is for real, then it could bring us a large fortune. 

Nero: ...

When the man smiled boldly, some kind of hatred was dwelling within Nero's eyes. 

Nero: That guy too... You guys as well... You're all corrupted!

Man: Hey, confiscate the medicine. 

Guard: Yes!

Several guards followed the man's order and seized Nero. 

Nero: Stop...

MC: Nero...!

Nero: Stop! This medicine is mine! Dammit... People like you guys... are nothing, but corrupted adults...!

When Nero desperately got away from the guards, he held up the small bottle in his hand. 

-Flashback-

Nero: It's... a medicine that'll let you stay as a child for eternity. 

-Flashback-

MC: Ah...!

Nero took off the bottle cap by force and placed it against his lips. Then... He drank it all in one gulp. 

Man: W-What are you... 

Nero: Kuh... 

MC: Nero...!!

After watching Nero drink the medicine that looked like poison, the adults that broke in stopped moving in surprise. They took that chance and ran away from Nero in a panic. 

Nero: Uu... Uuu... 

MC: Nero, are you okay!? 

When I frantically stopped Nero after he collapsed, his weight made me go down with him... 

MC: Eh...? 

Nero: Mm, uu... 

(What's happening!?) 

As I was holding Nero in my arms, his slim body became smaller... 

(He said that it's a medicine that'll make you stay as a child, his body is turning into a child...!) 

While Nero was breathing roughly in my arms, he turned into a small child... 

Chapter 9 - Form of a Child

In the area, where the unexpected event was happening, everyone became completely silent... When Nero drank the medicine that'll make you stay as a child, he turned into a child. 

Nero: Uu... 

Nero was breathing weakly in my arms. Just as he looked at me with his big eyes, his small body jumped up. 

Nero: Everyone! Now's your chance to escape!

The tiny Nero jumped at the guards. 

Guard 1: Uwah! Stop, I can't see in front!

Guard 2: Dammit! Catch that brat!

Man: What are you guys doing! You're just dealing with one kid!

Although, Nero's movements were quick and he flew past the adults to toy with them mockingly. 

Nero: Haha, such corrupted guys... You arrogant, selfish and repulsive adults... You have no right to do anything to us!

As his sharp eyes were burning with a frightening hatred, it felt like he was cursing everything in this world. 

(T-That's right. The children...!) 

MC: Everyone! Escape through here...!

I frantically led the children outside of the tent somehow. Although, Nero... 

Nero: ...

As the adults that he was toying with were scattered around, he headed towards the exit to escape from them... When he turned towards me for a moment, he disappeared soon after... 

MC: Nero...!!

Those eyes showed me how much he hated all adults from the bottom of his heart... Until the very end, my voice echoed within the empty circus tent... 

Last Chapter - In a Dream for All of Eternity

After that... Once I explained the situation and myself, we were free from the guards soon after. 

(Nero...) 

Since it may not be possible to see Nero anymore, I went to Circo to search for him. 

(It... It looks like he still hasn't returned to the kingdom. Nero... Where are you?) 

At that moment... 

Child 1: Nero-sama has returned to the circus troupe!

Child 2: Yay! Let's go see him!

(Nero...!?) 

When the town children started clamoring, I ran immediately. Then... 

Child 1: Nero-sama!?

Child 2: Wow...! Nero-sama has become smaller!

Nero: Yeah. Is everyone here all right? 

Child 3: Yeah! All of us were playing a lot together!

Nero: ...

The town children innocently ran and gathered around Nero. As it looked like he was fitting in with the children, he smiled wtih a sad expression. 

(Nero...) 

While I was watching, our eyes suddenly met. Right after Nero's eyes widened for a moment, he quietly looked down. 

(His expression, behavior and everything... It's like nothing about Nero has changed since the day before. Still...) 

Nero: We're going to talk about the circus tour again. But, that's for tomorrow. Let's have everyone go to sleep for today. 

Nero said that to the large group as if he's their big brother. 

Children: Okay!

Then, when the children obeyed him, they all dispersed and left. 

Nero: ...I never thought that you would be here. 

Once the children were all gone, Nero slowly walked towards me and said that softly. 

MC: I was worried... 

Nero: I see... Then, let's talk for a bit in the circus tent. 

For some reason, I felt a cold chill going down my spine.

(Why is my heart being noisy like this? Even though I finally got to see Nero now...) 

While being tormented by restless feelings, I headed to the circus tent with Nero...

Inside the circus tent at night, there was no one around and it was completely silent. 

Nero: I showed the effects of the medicine to the adults. 

MC: Eh...? Y-Yeah. 

When I became a little surprised from him suddenly talking, I lightly nodded. 

Nero: The adults that are after the medicine might come here too. I'm going to have to take everyone in Circo and travel somewhere. 

MC: Eh...? By travel, do you mean with everyone in the kingdom...? 

Nero: Of course. The precious children, I can't leave nay one of them behind. No matter how far... Even if it's at the end of the world, we will go to a world without any adults. 

Those eyes that were red like blood darkened from behind deeply affected by hatred. 

(That's Nero... Right?) 

Even though he has the form of a child, Nero is still Nero... 

(Why... I'm scared...) 

My heartbeat became faster. 

Nero: ...Why did you come back? Could it be that you're saying that you want this medicine? 

MC: ... 

I tried to deny those words clearly. 

Nero: I see... All adults are like that. That doctor, he was exploiting the medicine to make money in the end. That guy examining the children... Perhaps... 

Nero held back those last words. 

Nero: You... Come to think of it.

When Nero said that repulsively, it felt like the times whenever he said the word, "adult". 

Nero: Haha... 

Nero's ominous laugh echoed within the tent. When I looked at him, I noticed that he was holding the small bottle of "the medicine that makes you stay as a child" in his small hand. 

(Eh...?) 

There was still a little of the medicine left from when he drank it all. 

MC: Nero, that's... 

Nero: But, it'll be okay. 

MC: ...!

Nero grabbed my wrist and pushed me down towards the floor. 

Nero: I will... make you clean. 

MC: Nero... Stop...!

Despite being a child, I couldn't resist his strong strength. At that moment, he placed the small bottle against my lips... The strange scent lightly hits my nose. 

Nero: I want to be with you because I love you... Don't you want to come with me? ...But, I hate adults. So, I'm going to make us the same. 

I got caught by the intense look in Nero's eyes as he stared at me. 

Nero: There's no need to worry... It won't hurt, once you drink this, your dirty body will become clean. You'll become our friend. 

MC: But, that's... 

Nero: Don't you want to become a child? Once you do, you'll be happy. 

(Be happy... Together with Nero...) 

He forced the small bottle against my lips. Then, as Nero's eyes looked at me seductively, they didn't seem childlike... 

Nero: You... I love you... So... Please.

MC: ...Mm... 

When the strange scent poured into my mouth, my body became numb... 

(My consciousness...) 

Nero: Welcome, MC... To the never-ending dream, together with me. 

Nero's words echoed within my head. 

That voice, he sounded like a young child that still wants to play... While night was approaching and it was time to go to sleep... 

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