Ray - Son of the Dragonkin Clan Chief - Sun End

Ray - Son of the Dragonkin Clan Chief - Sun End

Chapter 7 - The Hand That Protects

After the roaring cry stopped, he appeared at that moment to attract the monster's attention in order to protect the child... Along with the sound of a weapon attacking, the monster's groans were heard at the same time.

MC: Eh...? 

Ray: Geez, your life isn't worth doing something like that. Are you stupid? 

Monster: GISHAAAAA...!!

Ray: Shut up, I was in the middle of talking. Just hurry up and die. 

Ray's cold gaze shot through the monster that was crying in pain. The next moment, he attacked the monster with the trident in his hand. 

MC: ...Why? 

(Did Ray protect me...?) 

When I murmured that, Ray turned towards me with a frown. Once he approached me with that gloomy look, he pulled my hand by force... 

Chapter 8 - Hidden Kindness

As the sunlight was reflected in Ray's eyes, they looked even more stern... His rough large hand recklessly grabbed mine. 

Ray: You already have a short life, what'll you do if you make it shorter? There's a limit to being good-natured... 

Contrary to his rough hand, there was an indirect kindness hidden within the words he said... I could feel how worried he was from the anger that he holds. 

(Even though I'm good-natured, Ray is the same way.) 

MC: Fufu. 

Ray: Huh? Hey, what are you laughing for? 

MC: Thank you for worrying about me. 

When I placed my hand over Ray's, his eyes widened greatly. 

Ray: ...I told you, this is so that I can get rid of these bothersome shackles quickly. 

When Ray softly brushed my hand away, he sighed. 

Following his gaze, the boy continued making huge drops of tears fall. 

Child: Uu, I'm sorry... 

Ray: Don't cry, you must have had some sort of reason. 

When Ray saw the flower in the boy's hand, he made some kind of brotherly expression... Without questioning him in the end, he hugged the boy in his robust arms... 

......

The orange sunlight was shining brightly as flower petals were fluttering in the wind. As soon as we returned to town, we took the boy to his mother. 

Child: When I made Mommy mad, I wanted to make her happy by giving her a flower... 

Mother: Stupid! That's no excuse for you to just disappear!

As the monster made an expression of both relief and worry, she hugged the small boy tightly. While watching the parent and child hug with tears flowing down, Ray made a relieved smile, but... 

(He looked sad somehow...) 

The pain of Ray's past showing in that expression became heavy. When I thought of this beautiful evening sky being in Ray's empty hometown... I felt pain in my heart. 

Ray: ...Let's go. 

Turning his back towards the parent and child, Ray started walking. 

MC: Ray!

Child: Thank you, Mister! Miss!

Without responding to the child's words, Ray waved his hand as if it was a bother with his back still facing them. After saying farewell to the parent and child, I ran after Ray. 

Ray: I really shouldn't be with you. 

Suddenly, my breathing stopped when he said that coldly... From those rejecting words that felt like they created an invisible wall, my heart felt a sharp pain...

Chapter 9 - Ahead of the Hand That's Reaching Out

When it became silent after he said that, the sun went down and disappeared completely... 

(If we came back here... I wonder if it's possible that we'll meet by chance next time.) 

I took a deep breath to calm myself down from his words that couldn't hurt me anymore than this. As the streetlights gradually began to light up the town, I went in front of Ray and looked straight at him. 

MC: I've decided where my place is. To be honest, I thought that you were a scary person at first. During the times when you were smiling, I can tell that you weren't smiling for real. You have no intention on opening the door to his closed heart... I can see that when you told me that no one has entered in it. But, before I knew it... 

-Flashback-

Ray: ...Weirdo.

---

Ray: Even though... it was fated for me to have met you guys from the start? 

---

Ray: ...Let's go.

-Flashback-

(With sadness and loneliness holding him... I noticed that he's someone that's moving on for no one.) 

MC: Suddenly, the door ended up opening. So... Don't go on by yourself. 

In the future from here on, I want to stay with him.

(Which is why... I want to be the place that you can return to.) 

When I held out my hand towards him, the rainbow colors of the sunset and the nightly atmosphere calmly wavered. After clicking his tongue, he hesitantly backed away as he made a bit of a pained expression... 

Ray: ...You're the one who got it opened. 

The next moment, he held me in his wide chest with all his strength. 

Ray: You didn't listen when i told you to stay away and you put yourself in danger... You really are a bothersome woman. 

Even though I can't see his face, his voice sounded like it was trembling a little... As I was in his robust arms, I can hear that he sounded happy... 

Last Chapter - Their Remaining Footprints

In a room of a small cabin, the moonlight shined in from the night sky... To confirm tomorrow's departure time, I visited Ray's room.

MC: Then... I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Ray. 

Just as I was about to leave after saying that, Ray got up from his seat without responding. At that moment, he stood in front of me and gently held my hand... 

Ray: ...Do you really think that? 

MC: Ray? 

As he was looking down at me seriously, I blinked. 

Ray: The daily life that I lost... Even though I'm buried by endless loneliness every day, do you really think that I can live that way again? Or maybe, when you told me not to go out by myself, was that out of pity? 

MC: No! I... 

(How can I get my feelings through him...? Telling him how serious my feelings are...) 

Since Ray was being like that, I strongly pulled his hand and put our gazes at the same height. While he was a little surprised, I placed my forehead against his. 

MC: I want to be the place that you can return to. 

When I told him the precious feelings that were created within me, his eyes blinked once. As his cold brow slowly went down, he showed a gentle smile before my eyes. 

(Ray...) 

The moment I saw that wary and gentle expression, my heart gradually became warm. I couldn't take my eyes away from Ray's face... 

Ray: MC...

When he said my name for the first time, it sounded more gentle than I expected and it made my heart skip a beat sweetly. 

MC: ...Yes. 

After I responded politely without thinking at the same time, he placed his hand on my head... As his warm hand was touching my hair, it made me think that my feelings had reached him. 

Ray: Thinking about my clan still makes me mad like crazy. But... I ended up trying to believe you. 

Just as he got a little closer to a distance where our eyelashes could touch, Ray broke into a smile. Aside from the first time we've met, it felt like his happiness was hidden in his voice during our reunion when we were looking at the ocean. 

Ray: Since you said so, you should go find me a new reason for living. 

MC: Let's look for it together. I don't want you to be alone, Ray. 

(From now on... I'll be by your side.) 

Even though I can't make his rough past disappear, I can at least make him happy from here on in the future. When I nodded greatly as if I was making a vow, Ray's large hand gently petted me. 

Just like this with the usual Ray... I can give him relief like what his gentle hand is doing.) 

Ray: I could care less about a world that can't grant wishes, but... With you and those guys in this world, I feel that I can make a connection with this world. 

MC: You can think about changing your wish. Ray... Have you wished for anything when you were living on the island? 

(If it's something that I can grant, a wish that Ray made from when he was living peacefully... I want to make it come true.) 

Towards my question, Ray thought about it silently... After some time, he made a nostalgic look for some reason. 

Ray: To give the clan a peaceful life as the leader of the dragonkin. Also... Someday, I want to have a normal peaceful life with someone special. 

Aside from the first time we've met, I didn't find it hard to believe him since I noticed the words that he told me had kindness in them. 

MC: I can't grant all of your wishes, but... Living together with someone special, I can do that. 

Despite our races and lifespans being different from each other, there won't be a lot of obstacles in this journey of atonement. 

(Even so, I strongly wish to walk with Ray into the future from here on.) 

Ray: Hey. Let me hear those words again. 

MC: Those words? 

When I tilted my head to the side, Ray gave me a sadistic look as if he finds this situation amusing. 

Ray: The words that you said during our reunion. 

(Reunion...) 

-Flashback-

Ray: ...Weirdo.

-Flashback-

I made a surprised look when I recalled what I said to him at that time. 

(Ah, that's right. What Ray wanted this whole time was...) 

MC: Ray, welcome back.

As if I was correct, Ray chuckled and made a soft expression... 

Ray: I'm back. 

(Ah... He can smile with a face like that.) 

Seeing Ray smiling happily for real for the first time, I wanted to remember that forever from now on. With the everlasting night sky on the other side of the window, it felt like the people that were special to him were watching over us... 

Main Story

Moon End