Overview
This is a cherished book from my dear roommate's past. I decided to read it when I felt like it. Here are the summary and my thoughts.
Summary
Here's the setting:
- Hundreds of years ago in autumn, a group known as "11 saints and 5 families" arrived on this planet and established a "church".
- Thanks to the rich fossil resources, they were able to build an energy civilization. However, wars over these resources led to cultural and resource devastation.
- During the wars, they utilized their best technology to create "immortals". As long as they have a "core", these warriors are undying.
- Once the war is over, the "immortals" are deemed useless, and since their cores are a concentration of energy, they are hunted. Quite tragic.
The story:
- Our protagonist, Kiele, lives here and can see spirits.
- One day, Kiele happens to meet Harvey, an "immortal". He too can see spirits.
- Harvey's task is to take a "Captain" (nickname), a spirit that has possessed a radio, to his grave.
- Kiele is thrilled to meet someone else who can see spirits, and decides to accompany Harvey on his task during her vacation. Harvey is reluctant, but Kiele insists on tagging along.
- During their journey, a church soldier targeting immortal's cores kills Harvey... or rather, extracts his core.
- Kiele is devastated. However, the Captain scolds her. They successfully recover Harvey's core together and manage to resurrect him.
Thoughts
- It has an atmosphere of science fiction meets shoujo manga.
- Depending on the reader's age, they may empathize with Kiele and find the older brother character attractive, or empathize with Harvey and think, "Kids can be so annoying!". I wonder if the story diverges based on that.
- Of course, I empathized with Harvey.
- At first, Harvey finds Kiele to be a nuisance, interrupting his journey. However, gradually, he begins to care about Kiele. Ultimately, he becomes quite smitten with her. I thought the transition in his feelings was depicted naturally, leading to a satisfying progression in the story.
- By the way, my dear roommate who loves Kiele, apparently likes Kiele's catchphrase "Just die". I mean, while reading, I had this thought. She must absolutely love this line.
- "Maybe there is a God in this world after all... (omission)...But He only watches us evenly, without showing favor to either side. What a benevolent God. Just die."
- Unfortunately, I haven't yet reached the point where I can understand that perspective...
- This work was published in 2003. 20 years ago.
