idolpro | Kino's Heart Game

I don't. What was that?

...

[When they speak, it's slow and even.]

Since we're snowed in until spring, we've been assigned certain "work." In exchange, the people of this country will provide us with food and supplies while we live just outside of the country itself.

That job is... to play the part of "heretics" who kill the ill with no chance of recovery in this country.

So...

They want mercy killings, but only from heretics?

In this case, "heretic" is just someone they can easily eject from the country. Since we're travelers, it's fine if we enter and leave.

We fill a convenient grey zone for them.

A grey zone...

So there you have it.

Anyway, someone will need to do it tomorrow. If you don't remember the rules, should I handle it?

....are you really fine with that kind of work?

I really don't want to freeze to death in snow that goes up to my chin.

That wasn't the question.

I do what I have to in order to survive. Even if it's unpleasant... Dying would be worse.

It is all right for you to have an opinion on your actions, you know.

I could kill people too.

But 'could' doesn't mean 'want' or 'like to.'

I don't enjoy killing. But in order to do what I enjoy - that means I have to kill.

And is this really the only thing you could do for winter?

The snow is too high to drive Hermes through. Trying to travel in these conditions would be suicide.

So was this just one winter?

"Was?"

Is it just this winter? Did you do this before?

[They shake their head.]

No. This is the first time I've been stranded in a country for the winter, much less so long.

And that was the only option they gave you?

That's right. No one wants their loved ones to suffer needlessly, but killing is against the law.

Travelers are a convenient work around.

...

You know, its all right to hate something you have to do.

Even if its for survival, even if its your only option.

Whether I like it or not, it doesn't change the fact that I'm killing people for my own survival.

Doesn't change that, but it does change you, you know.

Oh?

If you tell yourself something is fine, it's okay, it doesn't matter what you feel as long as it gets done, then eventually you stop caring if it gets done that way or another.

You stop looking for other ways to do it because you know you can do it this way and it's easier. Even if you hate it, if you....don't let yourself hate it, eventually that hate means nothing in how you approach things. And if you might as well not even hate it, what if you do it when you didn't have to?

Re: “A Winter Tale” ─D─

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Re: “A Winter Tale” ─D─