Volume Two: Life and Death in the Northern Frontier - Goodness

"Make way—make way, everyone—the seriously wounded—"

"Attention all personnel, please complete the casualty statistics as soon as possible!"

"Send two more airships! We need reinforcements!"

The Blood Tree Swarm's hunting frenzy finally came to an end, leaving only devastation. Almost all the leading convoys were injured to varying degrees, and the dead were not few either. As soon as the Blood Trees ceased activity, the Executive Committee immediately mobilized all available personnel to launch a massive search and rescue operation.

Injuries and fatalities are unavoidable in large-scale rally races, but the casualties this time were simply outrageous. Even though most drivers escaped unharmed because they hadn't yet entered the forest, many world-renowned top teams were forced to retire. The committee immediately suspended the race and issued a new notice:

The match was suspended for two full days, during which time search and rescue personnel did their utmost to provide support.

All teams have two days to assess their losses, and if they find it impossible to continue racing, they should immediately report to the organizers and withdraw from the race.

If it is determined that it is still possible to continue, then take two days to rest and recuperate, and after two days, start from the original position to continue the competition.

No one expected that such a major mishap would occur at the most prestigious race organized by the world's top business conglomerate. People condemned the Gray Starling Group for failing to conduct proper reconnaissance beforehand, leading the racers into the extremely dangerous Blood Tree Forest. In particular, the die-hard fans of the top teams forced to withdraw from the race launched large-scale protests in many areas. All these factors combined caused the stock prices of all Grey Starling's businesses to plummet.

This really put Garde in a bind. You see, the race route was ordered by the highest level of the group, how could he dare to change it? Now, although the damage to the overall interests of the group would be handled by the higher-ups, he had to take full responsibility for the race that had become a mess.

If there's any good news amidst this dire situation, it's probably that the two most watched teams in the competition so far, Ferruggio Silver Wolf Team and Vino Lions Team, haven't reported any serious injuries or deaths.

The final, crucial stage can only rely on them.

"We will take good care of Mr. Sena's remains and ensure they are not damaged in any way. Please accept our deepest condolences."

The rescue team members uttered a dry, curt statement, lifted a black cloth bag the size of an adult male onto the airship, saluted, and hurried off to their next destination. We watched the airship, which specialized in transporting corpses, intently until it disappeared from sight.

This is probably the only thing we can do for Alba.

"That's really tragic..."

A familiar voice; we all turned to look at the newcomer.

It was Kilga, the captain of the Vino Lions Team. He was alone this time; his frivolous teammates weren't with him. Although his gait remained casual, his expression was very serious.

Lewis immediately stepped forward, his face unfriendly, and said, "What are you doing here? If you want trouble, we can talk about it later!"

"It's nothing, I just wanted to see the body of a certain man, but it seems I've missed it."

"... You saw the scene when Alba died?"

"It's just a coincidence. We were also running away when the Blood Tree swarm went berserk. The situation was so urgent that we didn't care about the direction. When we finally escaped, we found ourselves near some familiar guys. You guys were really focused; you didn't even notice that we were nearby."

"So, you're here to make sarcastic remarks?"

"How could that be?" Kilga shrugged. "I'm the one being mocked, you know. I just called Alba Sena a traitor, and now... I've really been slapped in the face."

"..."

"I don't really agree with his approach, because it's full of flaws... but his character certainly earned my respect."

"... Thank you so much."

You're welcome...

Kilga and Lewis exchanged a glance for a moment, then turned and left. At that moment—

"Hey, wait a minute!" Lewis suddenly called out.

"What's wrong?" Kilga asked, turning his head.

"Can your Vino Lions Team continue the game?"

"We're very lucky. The car is mostly undamaged, and we only suffered minor injuries, so of course we can continue."

"Is that so... Hmph..."

"But then, it's pointless."

"... What did you say?"

"It's pointless," Kilga sighed. "It seems impossible for Ally's Sirius to continue. What's the point of winning the championship without her as an opponent? Not to mention her current mental state..."

Inside a makeshift tent, a blonde girl sat quietly, hugging her knees. Her face was expressionless, her gaze unfocused, and she looked very haggard.

"Well..."

Looking at her like this, I couldn't help but sigh.

"This is tonight's dinner, it's just been brought over, eat it while it's hot." I placed a bowl of hot porridge in front of her.

She looked at me, then at the porridge, and only responded after a long pause.

"... Thank you, I'll eat it..."

A listless reply.

There was no point in staying any longer, so I turned to leave the tent. The person I had always thought was my father's killer turned out to be the one who cared about me the most, and that person had died saving me just hours before. No one could recover from something like that in a short time.

"A Ye ..."

To my surprise, she called me to a stop. I paused and gestured for her to continue with my silence.

"Do you think my existence... might cause unhappiness for those around me?"

"..."

That's a really serious problem.

Unfortunately, I am not her, so I can't truly understand her feelings, and I'm not a psychologist or a confidante.

Therefore, all we can do is give a perfunctory response.

"That's not your fault, don't overthink it, finish your food and rest first."

"... oh."

"How is she?"

As soon as I stepped out of the tent, I encountered two other people.

"Still the same, I have no appetite, and it wouldn't be surprising if I collapsed at any moment." There was no need to hide it, so I told the truth.

"Elder sister..."

Ailin clenched her fists, her lips trembling slightly. Seeing her most beloved sister in this state, her heart ached more than if it were being cut by a knife.

"Ailin, Alba's death doesn't seem to have affected you much... You really only care about your sister." Givinia gently stroked Ailin's blonde hair.

"Well... how should I put it? Before I knew the truth, I really hated Uncle, but that feeling faded over time. Even though it was a lie, we really believed back then that Uncle killed Dad... You probably think I'm heartless towards my family... But for me, as long as my sister is okay, everything is okay."

Ailin, who is usually incredibly shy, spoke these words without the slightest hesitation.

This must be her most sincere feeling...

"Hey, Ailin, I forgot to ask, how's Sirius? Is it still operational?"

Ailin's expression darkened further when this was mentioned.

"Most of them can be repaired, but there are a few key parts that need to be replaced, and they are all large parts that were not brought with the vehicle."

"Then, what about the parts? Sirius should have pretty good compatibility, right?"

"Good compatibility means being able to use parts from other racing cars of similar levels. Other teams have at least one complete support team that comes to their aid when their cars break down... But as you know, we don't have a support team, no one will send us spare parts, and the general-purpose parts provided by the official race organizers are simply insufficient to support a top-tier racing car like the Sirius, so..."

In short, it's hopeless.

"Is that so... So regardless of whether Ally can recover or not, this is the end for us. What a pity for Alba."

Givinia stated the harsh truth calmly.

"... without..."

"Huh? Ailin, what did you say?"

"It's not over yet!" Ailin suddenly felt a surge of fighting spirit.

"Eh? Eh? Eh?"

"As long as my sister can recover from this setback, there's always a way! It's always been like this; no matter the difficulties, as long as my sister gets serious, she'll always create miracles!"

"But..."

"Definitely! Sister... please leave sister to me!"

Inside the tent--

It was nearly midnight.

The black of the night sky turned into deep blue.

Ally remained curled up in the tent, the porridge in front of her long since gone cold.

It wasn't out of sadness, regret, or anger.

She wasn't thinking about anything.

My brain was in a daze, like a lost child who, after countless attempts, finally gave up on finding its way out of the maze.

Deep down, she had a feeling that this wouldn't work, that she had to take action. There was no time to hesitate; she couldn't let Alba's sacrifice be in vain—even so, a lost child can do nothing.

A rustling sound came from behind, the sound of the tent flap being pulled open, followed by light footsteps.

"Elder sister..."

"..."

The voice was so familiar. Ally raised her head, glanced at the person who had come, and then lowered her head again.

"How can you play without eating? That's not good..."

"..."

"Well, Sirius is badly damaged, what bad luck... At times like this, it's up to you, sister, to take charge."

"..."

"Oh, right, I brought a small heater. Would you like me to heat up your porridge for you?"

"..."

"Elder sister..."

No matter how I tried to initiate a conversation, the other party did not respond.

Ailin looked at her sister with a hint of sadness.

The girl huddled alone in the tent in the darkness, her body so petite beneath the thin blanket. The cold moonlight shone through the gaps in the blanket onto her face, adding to her desolation.

How come I never noticed this before?

My sister is such a fragile person.

All along, her older sister had always stood in front of her, sheltering her from the wind and rain, and leading her, who was both timid and cowardly, forward. No matter what trouble they encountered, she could always solve it. Over time, in Ailin's mind, her older sister became an omnipotent, god-like being.

However, the trembling girl in front of her completely overturned Ailin's impression of her sister.

Not a god, just a person.

She's not Superman, just a young girl.

He wasn't a strong hero, just a vulnerable child.

But--

Regardless of what kind of person the real older sister is,

My love for my sister will never change.

"Elder sister..."

Setting down the porridge and the hot stove, Ailin gently moved closer to Ally.

"Ai... Ailin?"

"Sister, there's finally a reaction!"

"Hey, let go--"

However, Airi didn't finish her sentence.

A novel tactile sensation overwhelmed her consciousness.

Two soft, smooth, minty objects pressed against her lips.

The incredibly comfortable sensation made her forget all her troubles in an instant.

That's not all.

A slippery little thing pried open her teeth, slipped into her mouth, and entangled with her tongue.

The wet, sticky feeling is very addictive, and she couldn't help but move her tongue in response.

I don't know how much time passed.

The slippery thing shrank back, and the soft touch gradually faded away.

A silver thread hung between their lips.

One end naturally belongs to Ally.

And on the other end--

It was only then that Ally realized what had happened.

"Ai Ai Ai Ai Ailin!? What are you doing--"

A seemingly delicate hand landed heavily on her shoulder, forcefully silencing her from what she was about to say.

Ailin met her gaze with the most determined and sincere look she had ever given in her life.

"Sister, I like you."

"I... me too--"

"It's not the affection for family members, but genuine affection for a lover."

"But... aren't we... sisters?"

"It just happens that we're related by blood, so what's the big deal?"

"It's an obstacle, it's a serious matter! This... it doesn't make sense ethically..."

As she finished speaking, Ally's voice grew weaker and weaker, until it was barely a whisper. She shifted her position, blushing, turned her back, and sat cross-legged on the ground, looking completely bewildered.

"Laugh..."

Seeing her sister's adorable appearance, Ailin couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"What are you laughing at! If this is a prank, I'll definitely teach you a lesson!"

"It's not a prank, it's serious."

Ailin leaned in gently, hugged her sister from behind, rested her head on her shoulder, and smiled happily.

"Sister, do you know why I like you?"

Why?

"Because, my older sister is very strong."

"I... I'm not strong at all! I've always brought misfortune to others, yet I can't do anything about it!"

"No, from childhood to adulthood, you've always protected me, haven't you? No matter what difficulties we face, you always face them with a smile; no matter what failures we suffer, you never give up; you always say that tomorrow will be better—that's the kind of sister I love."

"..."

"Please stop saying I 'bring misfortune to others.' Because of my sister, I've always been very happy."

"Ailin ..."

"Uncle Alba said in the end, 'I hope my misfortune will bring you happiness.'"

She hugged her sister's hand even tighter.

"As for me, I want to share the happiness I've gained because of my sister with her."

So--

"Get up, sister, there's only one more step left."

Ailin stood up, smiling as she extended her hand to Ally.

The small palm contains boundless power.

Ally hesitated for a moment--

He reached out and grasped her hand tightly, letting Ailin pull him up.

"Hurry up, everyone's waiting for you."

"Everyone?"

When the two lifted the curtain and stepped outside, it was already dawn.

The grass was covered in morning dew, Touhou was turning a pale white. The refreshing morning breeze swept away the fatigue of a sleepless night. The moment Ailin pulled her outside, Ally even felt as if she had entered a new world.

"Ah..."

As the morning light blurred his vision, his eyes gradually cleared, and in the crystal-clear world, five familiar figures slowly emerged.

Liu Ye, Givinia, Lewis, Luo Huan, and Kilga.

Even though they were people I was used to seeing, I felt a strange sense of reunion after a long separation.

"Finally out? Are you all set?"

Liu Ye is still as beautiful as ever, and even that subtle sense of distance feels incredibly endearing now.

"Reporting, Captain, we've thoroughly analyzed the last section of the route."

Givinia still wore a faint smile, exuding unwavering reliability; just looking at her brought a sense of peace.

"Let's go... But, but, there are no replacement parts... Sirius is... not working anymore, is it?"

Ally, unsure of what to say, stammered for a while before finally raising the question that had been on her mind.

"Then let's Earthwalker!"

The slightly rough male voice belonged to Lewis.

"... Huh?" For a moment, Ally couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"So, if you don't replace the parts on your Sirius, it'll be useless, right? Then just use ours. Anyway, your car is very compatible!"

Lewis continued his rude remarks, but his face was turned to the side, as if he were... blushing?

"But what about your match..."

"Our Earthwalker are completely destroyed," Luo Huan added.

"Scrapped!?"

"Yeah, because of the Blood Tree's attack, even the main frame was severely deformed. Anyway, it's already ruined, so we might as well make the most of it." Luo Huan shrugged.

"Really? But we've always been—"

"An enemy? Who knows? You're just unilaterally treating us as arch-enemies! Don't get me wrong, we... we just don't want that idiot Alba to die!" Lewis blushed even more, and his tone became even ruder.

"You wouldn't believe it, would you? Don't let Lewis's appearance fool you, he's actually quite a tsundere," Luo Huan teased.

"Who says so-and-so is a tsundere? Don't talk nonsense! I just don't want them to leave like this!"

"Then... is it... thanks--"

"Aili!!!"

Suddenly, the airship's hum came from overhead, along with an even louder, familiar sound.

Boom! A small airship landed heavily on the ground, nearly knocking Ally over. The airship's hatch opened, revealing—

"... Emilia?"

"Who do you think you are, you idiot!"

"What?! The person who calls others stupid is the stupid one! You stupid person!"

"You called me an idiot right after you finished speaking! Idiot!"

"You are the one --"

"Okay, okay, Amy, you're not here to start a fight, are you? Hurry up and move your things out."

Tani Hana Mei appeared behind Emilia, carrying a heavy-looking suitcase.

"Tch... I know, don't rush me!"

As she spoke, Emilia carried down boxes of things and piled them on the ground, making it look like a small mountain.

"What are these...?"

"Nonsense, of course it is—"

Emilia kicked the box open, revealing it full of metal objects.

"--Replacement parts!"

"Huh? Huh... Huh... Huh!?"

Ally was shocked.

"Parts! Don't you understand? I'm following the race too! The whole media is saying you're going to drop out because of vehicle problems! You don't even have a support team, do you? So I reluctantly came to support you! If you, my nemesis, just drop out like this, I'll lose face too!"

"Hmph--! "Emilia said, blushing, then crossed her arms and turned to the side, displaying textbook-perfect tsundere behavior.

"Hey, you red-haired girl, what are you doing causing trouble?! I just decided to take pity on them and lend them the parts from the wrecked Earthwalker!" Lewis on the other side was annoyed.

"--Huh? You idiot, how could you be so kind! And you actually have parts from a wrecked car to offer!"

"Are you looking for trouble?"

"Waaah..."

Just as the two were about to start fighting, a soft sob interrupted them.

"Waaaah... Waaah..."

Looking in the direction of the sound, I saw Ally.

"Thank... thank you all..."

Large tears slid down her cheeks. She wiped them away forcefully and uttered broken words of thanks.

"Thank you... thank you so much... I'm sorry... besides thanking you... I really don't know what else to say..."

Ally was already sobbing uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face like a waterfall. Ailin gently patted her sister's back with a loving smile.

Ally has been through so much along the way.

Constant competition, constant enemies, facing numerous difficulties alone.

Disdain, hostility, suspicion... these were the things she felt most from others before the competition.

However, only at this moment,

She was surrounded by nothing but pure goodwill.

"Alright, alright, how long are you going to cry!"

Kilga, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.

"You're going to be a woman in my harem, how dare you cry so fiercely without my permission?"

"Who... Waaah... Who's your harem?!"

"If not, then wipe away your tears and go fix the car."

"Ugh... hmm?"

"If everything's alright, get the car fixed quickly and get ready. We're setting off again in less than a day, and if I don't have a decent opponent, I'll be in real trouble!"

"Kilga..."

"Don't look at me like that. I have the pride of a racer too. Victory without effort is meaningless. Now, out of the remaining racers, you're the only one worthy of competing with me for the championship, so... stop crying."

After saying that, Kilga turned and quickly left.

Only his back was left behind.

"..."

Ally touched her face.

The tears stopped without me even realizing it.

The impurities in my heart have disappeared, and I feel refreshed, as if I've been reborn.

A long-dormant fighting spirit surged back into my heart.

"Ah... I understand..."

When she looked up again, her smile was as radiant as the sun.

"Now, there's only one thing we, the Ferruggio Silver Wolf Team, need to do—"

Her clenched little fist was raised high above her head.

"--win!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Midterm exams are over, and my physics score completely collapsed, hence this 6,000-word long chapter!

This is my first attempt at writing something healing, isn't it!

And Yuri is great!