Beyond Purgatory

All right, there's no escape! I'll harvest you this time for sure!

Wait, is that...

That child... Could he be a Purgatorian?

It sure looks that way. And he must be a great one to be hunting alone while so young. Unless perhaps...

All right! Now, stay still...

Hyaaah!

Whaaa?! Wait up!

Ugh! You guys! You weren't watching just now, were you?!

Uh, yeah... Sorry. We saw everything. But don't feel bad, everyone fails every now and then...

I wouldn't worry about it too much if I were you.

That wasn't a failure...

Oh? What do you mean?

I wasn't able to harvest the soul. I tried so many times, and my scythe just kept slipping through it.

You couldn't harvest the soul? Is that really a thing?

I've never heard of such a thing before. Any idea why you can't harvest souls? It's a life or death matter.

I know... But I really have no idea. It's been like this ever since I became a Purgatorian.

I see... So that's why you look so young.

Hey, Zeviro. Is there anything we can do to help?

I was wondering if I should tell you or not... But you're really a good person, right?

No, it's just... How can you hear that and not want to help?

Sorry, but you're nothing but a human. Do you really think there's anything you can do?

Ooo... That was harsh...

Ugh, fine. I'll lend you this.

Zeviro!

But be prepared to pay me back. My help doesn't come cheap, you know.

H-Hey... Don't be too hard on the kid, okay?

A-Are you sure? You'll do this...for me?

Thank Aldo, if anyone. I'll stick around for as long as it takes to solve this harvesting mystery.

Thanks, guys!

I'm Zeviro. Don't you agree this will be easier if we know each other's names?

That reminds me that I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Aldo!

I'm Durg! Aldo and Zeviro! It's nice to meet you!

Well, now that the pleasantries are out of the way, let's get to work. To start with, I want to see Durg try to harvest a soul again.

And for that, we'll need a soul. How about we go after the one that just got away?

Good idea. Let's get moving.

There it is. The soul from earlier.

All right, Durg. Harvest that soul.

Okay, here goes nothing.

Hyaaah!

I knew it. It's no use.

Hmm...

Durg. I've got a question for you... What kind of souls is your scythe able to harvest?

Huh?

Ah, that's right... Purgatory scythes don't all harvest the same kinds of souls.

Hmm...

You didn't answer. Is it because you don't know?

Uh huh...

You don't know? Is that even possible?

No, you naturally know which souls can be harvested when you pick up the scythe. But there are rare cases in which users are unable to do that.

Then... That might explain why Durg isn't able to harvest souls!

It's not that he can't do it... It's far more likely that he just doesn't know which souls his scythe is able to harvest.

Umm... All right, so now what?!

Naturally, there's only one way to figure out what souls a scythe can harvest... Trial and error on as many kinds of souls as possible...

Trial and error... That sounds like it might seriously take a while...

Indeed. Durg... Are you up to the task?

Of course I am! It's way better than not being able to harvest at all!

All right. Then, starting now, we'll have to collect a bunch of different kinds of souls.

That said... There doesn't appear to be many souls around here, so let's head elsewhere.

Okay, so where should we go next?

Let's head to Igoma. I'm sure we'll find a lot of souls wandering around there.

Oh! Isn't that thing floating around over there a soul?

This soul...

Yes, it's definitely a different kind than the one you tried earlier.

Really? They all look the same if you ask me...

It's definitely different. I suppose I can show you the form of the souls' master.

Whaaa?!

Huh?! These souls are...

Calm down. They're still just souls. They won't attack us.

You say that, but you fight them all the time.

Okay, Durg. How about trying to harvest that soul?

O-Okay! I've got this!

Here I go... Hyaaah!

It's no use...

Hmm... We now know that four-legged creatures and winged creatures... And amorphous creatures cannot be harvested with your scythe.

Darn it...

This is no time to get down on yourself. Let's look somewhere else.

Hmm. Too bad. Looks like there are no souls here.

Then let's look somewhere else!

At his speed, no soul is safe.

Nah, you'd be surprised. He'd be struggling if there were other Purgatorians besides us around.

Hmm. I suppose you're right.

But that being said, it's not good to rush, either. I have a question for you, Durg. I think this is a good time to ask.

Hmm? What is it?

If you finally because able to harvest souls, what would you do then?

Umm... Isn't it obvious?! I'd harvest souls and reincarnate them!

So you want to be reborn, then.

Well, I became a Purgatorian before I reached adulthood...

Next time around, I want to be a grownup.

Durg...

Don't you want to be reborn, Zeviro?

I...

Zeviro?

It's nothing. Like Durg, I would also like to be reborn.

Hehe, I guess that makes the two of us rebirth buddies, huh, Zeviro?!

Hmm... I'm actually alive, so I guess I'm the odd man out here.

That just means you're a normal buddy of mine, Aldo!

Hahaha! Thanks!

Maybe it's about time we try another place.

Ah! Good call! I almost forgot why we were here in the first place!

All right, then! Let's move!

Hey! Hey! Don't run off on your own!

......

Sorry, Durg. But rebirth buddies... I really don't think I have what it takes.

Oh, look! Souls!

You're right. And five of them at that!

It looks like the souls of the fish that live in the pond. The types are different, so let's harvest them all for the time being...

Speaking of which... Just how specific are Purgatory scythes in terms of what they can harvest?

I'm not really sure myself, to be honest.

Though I have encountered wielders who harvest rare souls like those of dragons.

Dragons?! That'd be pretty tough, wouldn't it?

Not as tough as you'd think. The wielder I know goes so far as to travel with dragons.

And stays with them until they die... Is that it?

You may be right. Even so, there are a lot of dragons that live a long time. I think that, if he didn't do that, it would take him ages to find souls.

So what am I to do if my scythe is one of those that can only harvest hard-to-find souls?

Well, it's really not worth worrying about for now. Hey, Durg... Try harvesting those souls.

All right!

Hyaaah!

Ooo... Why oh why?

So these weren't the right ones, either...

Oh, well. We'll switch it up. Let's look somewhere else.

......

None of the souls we've found have worked out.

While it's still early, this isn't a good sign. We have to consider the possibility that this is a scythe that harvests rare souls like dragons.

I had a feeling this would take a while...

It's okay. I'm not giving up. I'll try, try, and try again until I find a soul I can harvest...

Ngghh?!

Durg?! What's wrong?!

I-I have no idea! But something feels extremely cold!

This feeling... Could it be...?!

Uh... What? It went away?

I'm glad, but... What in the world was that just now?

It was a warning. A warning that Durg was judged unwilling to fulfill his mission.

A warning?! But it's not Durg's fault that he's been unable to harvest souls!

But the fact of the matter is that he's not harvesting any... The reason doesn't matter. It's considered taboo...

So... What's going to happen to me if I continue to fail to harvest souls?

You'll probably lose your position as a Purgatorian...

If Durg loses his position...

I don't exactly know what happens to wielders who lose their position. They either cease to be... Or...

N-No! I don't want that to happen! We have to hurry! We have to find more souls!

Calm down, Durg. Getting flustered does nothing to solve the situation.

But... At this rate, I'm bound to lose my position as a Purgatorian, right? I don't want that!

Oh! Durg!

Dangit! Let's go after him, Aldo!

You don't need to tell me twice!

Hyaaah!

Shyaaah!

Why?! Why?! Why can't I harvest any souls?!

Durg...

You're getting desperate, aren't you? Just calm down for now.

*huff* *puff*

Calm down, Durg. You're going to wear yourself out recklessly harvesting souls like that.

Ngghh?!

Durg! Pull it together!

Aldo... Zeviro... I'm... I'm done for... Hurry. Get away... Get away...from here!

Don't be foolish. We've stuck with you this far. We're not about to abandon you!

It's no..use! Hurry...run...

Aaarggghhhh?!

Agh! Durg!

What?! What is this?!

It means we didn't make it in time... It means that Purgatorian has been excommunicated... Thus the horrible monster...

No way... So you're saying that thing is actually Durg?!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Aldo. Ready your weapon. Durg is going to kill us if this continues.

Can we really do that?! This is Durg we're talking about!

Don't you think I know that?!

I'm...so...sorry...

Durg?!

Please... Please... Get away...from here...

He ran away?

No, Durg exhausted the last of his free will to leave this place. He didn't want to fight us...

Durg...

Zeviro. At this point, is there anything else we can do?

Let's go after him, Aldo.

Zeviro?

We have to at least stop him ourselves... I told you, didn't I? We're not abandoning him.

Ngh! Okay, Zeviro.

I sense Durg just up ahead... We're heading toward Mescita. Let's go, Aldo.

Durg!

Come back to your senses! We don't want to fight you!

Argh?!

It appears that the last of his free will is gone.

Get ready, Aldo.

You agreed to help stop Durg, didn't you?

Let's do this, Zeviro. We'll stop you, Durg!

Thank...you...

Huh?! Did he regain consciousness?!

Yes... But... Probably... Not for...long...

This is awful...

So kill me... Kill me...before... While some...of me...still...remains...

Sorry, but we can't do that. I thought I told you... I have no intention of abandoning you.

Zeviro?! What are you going to do?!

My scythe was designed to harvest beasts. But even if he's been reduced to a monster... That doesn't mean my scythe can't still harvest his soul!

Ze...viro...

Come back to us, Durg!

Wh-What? I'm turning...back to normal?

Durg! You did it, Zeviro! You did it!

......

Zeviro? Why do you suddenly look so glum?

What?!

Durg's body!

I tried to force Durg's soul into reincarnation with my Purgatory scythe. But it proved impossible... What I did manage to do was bequeath what was left of his soul to this place. Durg, as he is now, has no future and exists only to eventually fade away.

This is awful...

Zeviro... Chin up. Thanks to you, I was able to turn back into my old self... I was able to turn back into a Purgatorian.

I no longer have a scythe... But I'm totally fine with that. I'm happy.

......

So... If I'm destined to fade away, there's somewhere I want to go...

Sure. We'll take you anywhere.

Then I want you to take me to Corabel...

Corabel, huh... Then let's get going...

Thank you for bringing me here. If I'm going to fade away, I at least wanted to do it with a view...

You might have been born on this island.

Haha... One could only dream. I love this island...

Ngghh?!

Durg!

I'm sorry... Aldo and Zeviro... It looks the time has come to say good bye.

Is there really nothing we can do? I mean, Durg was just getting started! How can it end like this?!

......

Thank you... Thank you for mourning me... I'm so glad I was able to spend the last moments of my life with you two!

This isn't over yet.

Zeviro?

Huh?! What's this?!

What are you doing, Zeviro?!

I'm reincarnating Durg. I'm sending all of the power I've accumulated...to him...

You can do that?!

N-No! If you send him all of your power, you'll... Zeviro!

You didn't know, but I've been lying to the two of you this entire time.

Lying?

The truth is that I stopped trying hard to harvest souls a long time ago.

Huh?! B-But why?

I was scared. Being reborn means parting with everything you've gained up until now. I'm no exception... It would mean dying with no possessions or accomplishments.

So it's just like Ilulu's boss' boss was saying earlier...

So it's just like Ilulu's boss was saying earlier...

Her boss read me like an open book. I am a coward.

No! Don't say that! You're anything but a coward, Zeviro! I mean, just look at what you did for me!

No, I AM a coward. I'm a miserable man who's never been able to get ahead. And that's why I did it. I wanted to save someone unafraid of the future like you.

Zeviro... Are you serious?

Aldo. I believe that what I've done to you is inexcusable. But it was my choice to make.

......

I understand... If you've really made up your mind. I won't question it anymore.

Thank you.

Zeviro... I promise you this! I'll be reborn! I'll grow up! And I WILL be happy!

I know... But please be happy for the both of us.

Durg! Zeviro!

......

It's finally over. Durg has been reborn, and Zeviro has...

Hey! Aldo! Is Durg still over there?!

Huh?! Whose voice is that?!

Ngh! I rushed out of Purgatory as fast as I could and thought you might be here!

Are you... Are you Zeviro by chance?

Yes... I reluctantly am.

How? And why in that form?

In the very end, Durg transferred some of the power back to me. "It's enough. So here's some back." My decision turned into a farce after all!

Ha... Hahaha!

But I'm glad it did. I'm glad to have you back.

Darn it, Durg! I didn't expect you to try to go out with such a difficult last request... "Let's meet again in the next world."

You two really are rebirth buddies.

Now, I can no longer say that I'm afraid to be reborn.

It might not be so bad if you think about it some more. And you have a lot of time to think about it.

Time to think... You got that right. It looks like I'll be staying with you a little longer. But if I'm to travel with you, I can't stay like this forever.

Hahaha! You really shrunk, didn't you!

Did he already run off to find more souls?!

Phew... Is this what it means to be in a hurry?

Haste makes waste, you know?!

It takes no time at all if you fully utilize my collaborators. Despite my fear of reincarnation, the knowledge I've accumulated up to now is the real deal.

I thought the child Zeviro was a fresh new look for you...

Forget he ever existed... Because you're never going to see him again!