Book 3 Chapter 3

Episode 52

Swoosh—

My eyes naturally opened to the warm breeze sweeping through the grass in the field.

My body swayed pleasantly each time the carriage wheels creaked. A scene I'd seen before…

In the breeze that coolly caressed the cold sweat that had drenched my body, I sat up to find the world bathed in twilight.

"Oh, you're awake!"

A cheerful voice came from the driver's seat. It was Sammy. He was holding the reins, leading two packhorses.

"Here is…"

"The road to <Golden Rose>. We should arrive tonight."

This time, a voice came from beside me. Along with the heavy clanging sound of black iron.

"I know stability is the top priority, but Rem said the holidays are ending soon."

"Right! <Delighten> there, they say credit management is super strict. So I told them to go."

Rem, stability, holidays…

In the string of those words, a sudden headache, as if my head would split, surged. Memories I had forgotten in my sleep awakened.

"All of that… it was real?"

If all those memories were true, then simply being alive and breathing now was a miracle.

Haaah…

As I let out a long breath and slumped weakly onto the cargo bed, Rem chattered.

"But you have a wider network than I thought?"

"Huh?"

"That forbidden book you brought, we almost got into big trouble leaving the city because of it, but the Special Operations Department just let us through."

Special Operations Department… Dolen Slade?

"The guy with squinty eyes and an unpleasant smile?"

"Yeah. Exactly that feeling! He said, 'This is a token of affection from your future superior to Rein Wi-jak,' and asked me to convey his regards."

"Tell him I don't want it."

He was the kind of person who had a knack for appearing suddenly out of nowhere when he was bored. Thanks to him, I did manage to get the book in <Redacavle>, but…

"Still, it's true we owe him a favor. Make sure to greet him later."

A favor… If that's the case, wasn't there someone else who should receive greetings first?

These idiots not only followed me all the way here because they were worried, but they also helped me, even making black mages their enemies.

Sammy pretends to be fine, but I can see cold sweat trickling down his cheek. Even Freida groaned after taking on the dark poison…

"…If you guys weren't here in the first place, I wouldn't have even gone through that guy's inspection."

So, I subtly turned my head and muttered in a low voice, as if complaining, as if whining.

Like Rista, will there ever be a day when I can honestly express my gratitude? A day when I can genuinely laugh and cry?

Perhaps my unspoken sincerity reached them, as Bart and Sammy smiled gently.

"What did you say?!"

But Rem jumped onto the cargo bed and dramatically cupped a hand to his ear.

"I didn't hear you, could you say that again?"

"I didn't say anything."

"What?! You said, 'If you guys weren't here, I wouldn't have even gone through that guy's inspection,' right?!"

"I told you I didn't say anything!"

"Wow! Bart! Sammy! Rein, who said 'If you guys weren't here, I wouldn't have even gone through that guy's inspection,' has something more to say!"

"Ah, stop it!"

"Ah, shh-stop it~!"

Rein quickly reached out to grab Rem, but there was no way a mere mage could catch up to the agility of a first-rate archer.

As Rem skillfully evaded Rein's grasp and mimicked Rein's voice, Sammy burst out laughing.

Bart did try to stop him, telling him to quit teasing, but there was a hint of laughter in his voice too.

'Well, it should be fine.'

Sammy thought, glancing back at Rein playfully wrestling with Rem.

'Since he's so spirited, nothing strange should happen just from reading a forbidden book…'

* * *

Late on a Friday night, they managed to arrive safely at the West Gate of <Golden Rose>.

This too was a close call.

The gatekeeper was just about to close the castle gates; if they had been even a little late, they would have had to sleep outside.

"It's so dark, hasn't the dorm already closed?"

Passing through the streets ripe with night, Rem, who had been responsible for keeping watch throughout the journey, yawned languidly. Rein shook his head.

"They said the dorms are open until midnight during the holidays."

"Really?"

Rem then scratched his head, looking slightly disappointed, and glanced at Bart. At the time, I wondered why he was acting like that.

"No~ So why did we do such hard labor in <Redacavle>? We couldn't even reveal our achievements. It doesn't add up profit-wise."

News from <Redacavle> must have already spread throughout the southern region, as pedestrians in <Golden Rose> were whispering about the massacre there.

And Rem grumbled upon hearing that story.

"If you want to be caught by inquisitors, keep testifying, and become a target for black mages, then go ahead and confess that Rem took care of everything."

"Shut up, man. Who doesn't know that? I'm just a little disappointed, that's all."

Engaging in such idle chatter, they eventually arrived at the dorm's main entrance.

By then, my body had recovered significantly, and I could walk on my own. Pain and fatigue remained, so I probably wouldn't be able to do strenuous exercise for a few weeks, but…

I jumped down from the cargo wagon and lightly stretched my body when Bart spoke, his voice heavy.

"Well then, it looks like we have to part ways now."

"Yeah, I guess so. Is that really something to get so serious about?"

"Rein, we actually followed you to say goodbye. If nothing had happened in <Redacavle>, that's how it would have been."

What kind of goodbye?

I chuckled and shook my head.

"I told you, no need for thank-yous."

But the atmosphere among the three of them was somehow subtle. I felt my heart shriveling with an inexplicable unease.

"No, it's that we won't be able to see you for a while now."

"Won't see me for a while?"

"We received a summons."

I gasped in surprise. Because there was only one instance when adventurers spoke of receiving a summons.

Trident Point.

A trident-shaped cape spread across the northwestern North Sea region of the continent, it was a holy land for adventure where only truly skilled individuals could operate.

Facing Harvadonia, the Land of Madness, it was densely packed with ancient abyssal temples and labyrinths, and over 60% of the area was still unexplored.

Adventurers operating there received several times the contribution and rewards, but it was also twice as dangerous, so only those of at least Silver Rank or higher were permitted to operate there.

"The Moby Dick Adventurer Party nominated us. They're ranked a formidable 3rd among adventurer parties. It seems like it will be a great stepping stone for growth for Rem and me."

Rein did not answer.

It was something to celebrate. Something to rejoice over together. But for some reason, my throat felt blocked, as if I had swallowed a lead weight.

It was a strange feeling. Had I liked these guys? I had felt a slight fondness, but was it this much?

"Sammy isn't Silver Rank, though."

"Of course, because it's such a dangerous place, I'm also planning to return to the church. I'm going to seriously prepare for the priest examination now."

Sammy smiled gently.

Rem, who had been observing Rein's expression, started to tease him.

"Why, are you scared because your cool older brother and sister figures are leaving? Do you want us to stay by your side?"

"…Good grief, what nonsense."

Rein turned his gaze slightly and muttered with a sulky face.

I almost told them not to go. I wanted to tell them to stay together. But Bart said he was looking forward to Trident Point as a stepping stone for growth.

It felt like holding back friends who wanted to go to such a place would be too selfish.

"I thought we would just exchange light goodbyes and part ways."

At that moment, Bart suddenly knelt on one knee to meet my gaze. Then he abruptly reached out and gently stroked Rein's head.

It was a touch that, by a warrior's nature, couldn't help but be rough, yet I could feel the affection contained within it.

Suddenly, old memories resurfaced. The feelings I had experienced from Kiess and Rista, who used to stroke Lin's head when they were bored, were revived.

"Because of this incident, I'm worried and can barely bring myself to leave."

At that moment, my eyes trembled violently. Was it the echo of shock from a painful realization?

Ah, so that's it, I truly liked this trio of eccentrics…

Only when it's time to part do I become honest with my feelings. I'm repeating the mistakes of my past life.

- Lin.

If Rista had been here right now, and I had said I was leaving for my training, what would she have done?

"Don't worry and go."

"Hmm?"

"Funny, really. I'm several times stronger than you guys. You've seen it firsthand, you know it better than anyone, so what's all this worrying about?"

Perhaps it would have been softer and warmer, but she would have surely said something like this. To lighten their departing steps, to ease their worries, even just a little.

Rem, who had been uncomfortably fidgeting his lips, perhaps unaccustomed to the atmosphere of parting, finally crossed his arms with an arrogant smile.

"When we meet again, be ready to give me a proper greeting. Because I, Rem, the peerless archer, might just have become an Arch-Archer."

"No, that's impossible."

It was a playful remark, but Rem reacted sensitively.

"Hey! Why do you get to decide that?! Are you the next emperor? Do you choose the Yellow River Four Stars?"

Sammy chuckled, Bart grinned, and Rein also snickered. Rem, perhaps also having been teasing, suddenly offered a hand with a sad smile.

"Well then, mischievous Rein, stay healthy and well."

As I clasped that hand, I already felt lonely. But I didn't show it. Because Rista would have done the same.

"Sammy, lose some weight."

"Haha, thank you for your concern, brother. Next time, don't pretend you don't recognize me because I'm too thin, okay? Oh, right."

Sammy, laughing heartily, approached and placed a heavy object in Rein's hand.

It was the forbidden book, a book about Tureina.

Bart and Rem didn't ask Rein about the forbidden book. They trusted that Rein would explain it himself when he was ready.

'To gain someone's trust, shouldn't you trust them first?'

Sammy also followed that judgment. It was rare for those two to be wrong.

The two didn't ask Rein about the book, nor did they ask about Rein's identity. Just as they hadn't asked Sammy before.

Bart, who had been looking down at Rein examining the book with eyes full of countless emotions, finally stood up.

"Well then, Rein, this is goodbye for a while."

With Bart's words, the eccentric crew turned around. Their steps, which had begun to lead them into the darkness, abruptly stopped. It was because Rein had shouted.

"We'll… we'll see each other again, right?"

His shout seemed quite unexpected, as the eccentric crew was seen exchanging puzzled glances.

Rein couldn't know that they were actually wearing contented smiles, due to the distance…

Finally, Rem cupped his hands around his mouth like a megaphone and, as the representative of the eccentrics, answered him.

"Why are you asking something so obvious? We're friends."

Feeling a warmth stir deep within his heart, Rein vigorously waved his hand. The eccentric crew waved back and resumed their steps.

Little by little.

And step by step.

The boy grows along with the world.

Socrafres.

- You can inherit the progress of 'Unique Magic' research from the surrounding environment.

- Progress: 44.8%

Under the truth (眞理) that, though unseen, clearly resides within the boy's life.