Snow-covered landscapes; A wilderness that stretches as far as the eye can see, but looks like an ocean. I don't know when it began, but the world in my eyes gradually became like this.

Although no one cares about how things change now, I still can't help but wonder: Is the so-called apocalyptic scenery like this?

It's deserted, but it's not the so-called inaccessible track, but as the literal meaning suggests, no one will appreciate such a landscape; Such land is of interest. That's right, everything looks so lifeless. ——

From these seemingly never-ending corpses and dry bones everywhere, it can be easily sketched.

And whether you are disgusted with such a blood-drenched scenery or not, it seems that it has lost the value of commenting and correcting it now. In front of me, there were old vines and trees rubbing shoulders one after another, and a few crows stopped on the branches that seemed to have been burned black, chirping incessantly. ——

I don't hate their calls, but I can't listen to them calmly.

Walking through the corpses and dry bones everywhere, the girl ran step by step to her destination, the village in front of her, which seemed to be close to the distance and within reach. Although, it has been destroyed by raging fire. This means that there can be no more so-called survivors in the ruins......

Even knowing this cruel truth, the girl still took steps without hesitation.

However, the reason why she is unwavering is not to want to help someone who may be dying in the overwhelming sea of fire at this moment. That's right, she's not there to save people. And I just want to see if there is, even if it's just a little bit of a star...... Something that can satisfy hunger.

Although she lay quietly around her with something that could fill her stomach, she was not hungry enough to eat anything.

No, maybe she was really dizzy from hunger, but in order to maintain the only bit of self-esteem she had left, she felt that even if she was hungry, she could never abandon her human identity.

Thinking of this, looking at the ruins in front of her, she couldn't help but fall into deep thought. ——

However, instead of thinking about the so-called order, I can't help but wonder: if someone calls for help in the process of finding food, then should I lend a hand? Or do you just ignore it as you did before?

In fact, in most cases, I would not hesitate to choose the latter rather than the hopelessly pedantic idea of sacrificing myself to save others.

This may be said to be selfish, but the so-called "sacrificing oneself to save others" must be based on the premise of ensuring one's own survival.

And if even these most basic preconditions cannot be met and realized, how can we start helping others?

Eventually, the girl rummaged through the rubble desperately - yes, she just wanted something to eat.

However, the reason for being so desperate is not out of fear of "death" itself, but because she wants to do her best to live. Even here, it is no longer possible to expect to encounter a world of "kindred kind".

However, her efforts; Her wish was laughed at mercilessly in an instant—

Because, as expected, there is hardly anything but ruins everywhere.

Still, she found a few pieces of bread crumbs that had been blackened. They may be moldy; You may not be able to bite at all, and it may be difficult to swallow. But now there is no choice, or room for pickiness.

In short, "I can fill my stomach for a while." ”

The girl couldn't help but think so. However, just when she wanted to enjoy it slowly by leaning on the broken wall and rotting roots, she was disturbed by the sudden sound-

In fact, the only reason why I noticed that sound was because it was not the roar of a beast.

But in comparison, it is the roar of the beast that is more nostalgic.

"Really, can't you let people rest for a while?" After a while, the girl muttered such grievances and complaints; While walking in the direction of the source of the sound.

"Help me, anyone?!"

As the distance narrowed, the voice that had sounded indistinct grew clearer, but the girl was not happy about it. - And even if she chooses to turn a blind eye to this cry for help, no one will blame her.

Yet, all the while, she persuaded herself to act diametrically opposed to her principles, on a variety of grounds.

Then, in a mess that looked like a mountain of garbage, she found the culprit who couldn't help but enjoy her lunch—a silver-haired teenager who looked dying and had a bleeding head.

And at this moment, he is naked, not ...... Maybe it should be said that the blood that is dripping and spreading all over the corners of his body is his "coat" at the moment, right?

"Help me...... Please, please. ”

Even though he knew that even if he was rescued, he would not be able to survive smoothly, but even so, he was still unwilling to give up, and stretched out his trembling; The bloody hand, desperately grabbed the girl's bare ankle.

"Are you human?"

However, in the face of the girl's question, he no longer had the strength to answer. So, as if it were a matter of course, the girl made a decision that seemed rather hasty, but it seemed to be deliberate. "Okay, I'll get you out."

As soon as the words fell, I saw that she began to methodically clean the stone slab that was pressing on the young man's body, and then pulled him out with all her strength.

The price of doing this is undoubtedly to make the body that has just got a moment of rest let out a ghost crying wolf howl again**-

"You're so heavy!" Then, at the moment when she pulled him out completely and lay down on the ground to rest, the girl sighed.

"I'm sorry." However, his frankness surprised her, who was still out of breath.

"And, thank you."

The moment she heard this, the girl suddenly fell into a state of speechlessness. - Once, she no longer remembered the so-called "what year is tonight", but it was better to say that in the current seemingly crumbling world, if she spent time remembering those things, it would be a real waste of time.

And, along with this part of the memory, what is buried is the ability to communicate with people. - But that doesn't mean that you have forgotten all about how to speak, but that you have forgotten how to accept the kindness of others and how to thank them. "Tell me your name first. Or do you want me to pick one up for you? ”

Then, as if deliberately avoiding the word of thanks, she changed the subject as if nothing had happened, and even tried to tease the child in front of her.

"No need, the name or something, there are still them!" Then, as expected, he blushed. And in order to hide his shyness, he unconsciously expressed his dissatisfaction by roaring.

However, she did not hate the obvious "honesty". It's better to say that this kind of conversation can't help but bring back a lot of memories for her. Although, most of them are already like dreams, and there is no real feeling at all.

"Hatfield Yael, that's my name."

The boy said his name, but at that moment, the looming loneliness and sadness that flowed from his eyes did not escape the girl's eyes. "Huh? It's pretty good, and it's smooth; It's easy to remember. However, just as she sighed, she suddenly found herself being stared at.

"What's wrong?"

She didn't feel that she had done anything wrong, so she couldn't understand why she was suddenly treated like this:

"Name, you'll have to tell me your name too. Otherwise, it's too cunning, isn't it? ”

- Although the girl took this for granted, she couldn't help but be amused:

"Indeed, it is a bit cunning to say that."

But on the other hand, she also felt that it was a pointless request. Because even if you know your name, you won't change anything.

"My name is Natalie Olivia, and while I don't think anything would change even if I knew it, it was really my name."

Natalie sounded like she was confirming something. Maybe she's just trying to say her name on a whim to make sure she doesn't forget it easily.

It now seems pointless to do such a thing.

The name itself is just a label, a symbol, or something like that. However, even so, it is still an indispensable thing to distinguish between people.

"So, your birthday happens to be Christmas?"

Faced with the teenager's question again, Natalie said unexpectedly:

"Nowadays, remembering your birthday is something that only a fool would do." But the reason why she answered this was not because of arrogance, but because she was simply stating the facts.

"By the way, if there are any problems, please hold it in your stomach for the time being, I'm tired."

After Natalie finished speaking, she lay down on her side. What she didn't expect, however, was that the imp named Hatfield was really silent after this.

Instead, he just looked like he wanted to seek warmth, and gently hugged his body. ——

Although he is not good at accepting the tenderness of others; I'm not good at giving others equivalent tenderness. But now, even if you accommodate his willfulness, what's the point?

In the conversation that followed, as expected, the words "family" such as parents and brothers suddenly became unfamiliar to him overnight. That's why he tries to find a sense of déjà vu in himself, right?

"Give it up, I'm not good at that, and I'm not your family."

And in the face of his cautious, desperately enduring, and trying his best to hide his weakness, Natalie refused without hesitation.

The only thing I can seek here is this sturdy body. ——

That's how she came to the conclusion and took it for granted that it was "right." Rather than hypocritically trying to play the role he expects, it is better to tell him the truth from the beginning. And there is no doubt that this is a wise judgment.

Perhaps, some people will say that this is impersonal, but there is no basis for judging the so-called impersonal. Everyone's criteria for judging this can be very different.

"If you feel that your body has recovered and you have more strength, you can find a way to get out of here yourself."

It was after a momentary silence that seemed eerie that Olivia spoke again.

"Why? Can't I be with you? ”

After listening to his appeal, Natalie couldn't help but be a little surprised. Although this is the natural appeal of a child of his age-

There's always someone you can rely on, right? But unfortunately, he is not the object of his expectations.

Because so far, I have been trying to survive alone, and I don't know how to take care of others.

"Nope."

After perceiving his thoughts and fully understanding them, Natalie rejected him anyway. However, she did not say much about the reasons for the refusal.

"I can do anything, please let me stay with you!" But even she made her decision so obvious. Hatfield remained unrelenting.

"Even if it were, it wouldn't work. Don't make me repeat it a second time. ”

"Won't it work anyway?"

Truth be told, Olivia wasn't very good at dealing with a "spoiled kid" like Hatfield, and on the other hand, she didn't want to talk too much, so she had to say yes.

"Okay, but you can only stay here until dawn the next day. I'll leave immediately after that. ”

Even this kind of "time limit" promise instantly made Hatfield burst into cheers.

But then in his euphoria, he asked the question: "Can we meet again?" ”

And this unexpected question once again made Natalie fall into silence unconsciously. Because, she never thought about "saying goodbye to someone". However, there are people who do make seemingly insignificant wishes such as "I want to see myself again". Obviously, this put her in a paradoxical situation......

"Isn't that very important to you?"

So, naturally, she asked such a question.

"Of course, that's very important to me!"

His answer was without the slightest hesitation. However, compared to his categorical decision, Natalie once again fell into a seemingly hesitant contemplation.

"If that's important to you, try to survive on your own, right?"

Even if it's just for such a trivial wish. After all, if you die before you see me again, then the wish itself is meaningless. ”

Originally, she just wanted to try to comfort the young man who was trembling behind her, but she didn't expect to say so much unconsciously.

- Perhaps, even Natalie doesn't want to see him die like this senselessly, right?

If that happens, then your previous efforts will undoubtedly be in vain. So, it was based on this that she said that. However, if she wanted to improve his chances of survival, she had a better chance of having Hatfield with her, but she had no intention of doing so.

"Really? As long as I do my best to live, will I be able to see you?! ”

Hatfield was overwhelmed by this and became intrigued. "At best, it will only increase your chances of seeing me. After all, no one can say what the future holds, right? ”

"No, I will live, even if I am dying, I will try to live. So, could you please keep this covenant as well? ”

Originally, the night that was intended to have a good rest turned into a night of conversation and small talk.

After that, how Natalie answered, and for what reason, I am afraid that only Hatfield knows.

The next day, Natalie parted ways with Hatfield, who was still reluctant and tried to beg her again and again, as she had been promised. However, after that, she had no such destination.

"Where do we go next?"

Immediately afterward, she pondered her removal; While pondering another question: "Are you the last person to survive on this earth shrouded in death itself?" ”

However, she soon rejected this hypothesis. Because if this assumption is true, it means that the imp, Hatfield Yael, does not exist.

Although he is not related to him, but even so, maybe he still doesn't want this to happen, right?

It's just that she still feels unbelievable about the fact that "there are no human beings in the world at this moment except for the two of them".

And the source of everything seems to have originated from a meteorite rain that has almost faded into oblivion by now.

However, this is at best an "external factor" that fuels the trouble. In other words, even without that sudden catastrophe, humanity that is now infinitely multiplying and too self-centered will eventually be punished as it deserves.

And the meteorite rain that fell from the sky just unconsciously advanced the time of human "extinction".

- However, having said that, there are people who have managed to avoid that devastating catastrophe and survive. After all, he is a living example -

"It seems that dinner should be more thought about than the destination."

With that decision, Natalie fell to her knees, digging desperately in a corner where it was clear that there wouldn't be any food.

All she wanted to find was a plant rhizome that was now as precious as gold. ——

For this reason, sometimes Natalie does not sleep and does not hesitate to spend the whole day on this kind of thing. Because if you can't find it, you have to starve.

And all along, in order to have a full meal, she tried almost everything that was "barely edible".

Of course, this also includes animal carcasses that are not yet fully decomposed. As for water, it can only be used by its own blood. And the blood only made her thirsty worse. But there is no other way.

So, at this moment, Natalie's wish is just to hope that someone can fill her up. For this reason, even if it is to sacrifice this body, it is not spared.

"It can't be, right? Looks like it's going to be ...... again today."

And now, even such wishes and requests have naturally become extravagant hopes. ——

"In that case, why don't you try to die and see it once?"

Sometimes, this kind of thought is in the mind's mind, but it may be easier to die than to live as if you were dying. But she didn't want to use that as an excuse to escape from reality. And, I don't want to live up to the expectations of "that person".

"Struggle to survive, after all, I don't want to save on a whim, but in the end it is a worthless life."

In that meteorite rain that can be called a "calamity", a man's words have always been the only pillar that has supported Natalie to survive until now. Now, she's not trying to prove how great she is, or how tenacious she is......

It's just trying to live "for yourself".

Perhaps, although she doesn't want to admit it, Natalie really wants to try to prove that the self he saved is not the so-called "worthless life." ”

Probably this is her own stubbornness. And, in the face of this lifeless world, the stubborn resistance, right?