Friends, Allies, and Enemies (9)
She was instructed to stay put until he returned.
With that, he left. He might never come back. There wasn’t much time left for him.
The initial purpose was simply to watch over his end. To be honest, the biggest reason was guilt. What she had done to Flan. The reason he had to become so broken. And having experienced Flan’s pain right by his side. After learning the truth about Flan, whom she thought was the embodiment of pure malice, she couldn’t bear it.
It must be the same for this dragon, sound asleep. It’s the inability to endure that keeps it from waking.
But she is awake. Therefore, she wanted to offer him rest by his side.
Flan might think he’s resting comfortably, but that’s not true. He doesn’t rest. She realized this while they were traveling by carriage. A few minutes after she heard the sounds of him snoring with his eyes closed, he would tear onto his own face, and tears would flow down. Numerous of the scars on his face were formed this way.
When she first discovered this behavior, she was so shocked that her heart sank. Fearing that he might do it again, she couldn’t sleep at all. Sometimes, when she checks on the sleeping Flan and finds him scraping against his own face, she always pulls his hands away. Then she ties them so he can’t tear at his face again. Spending every night like this, dark circles have settled heavily under her eyes.
Does Flan know about this? Of course, he probably doesn’t.
Anyway, watching him suffer like that, she thought he needed rest.
But the only reason Flan, who desires rest, stays alive and active. Should she let go of him who is alive just to keep a last promise to a dead friend?
Flan wants to die. He wants to deliver all the letters that much. He’s trying to keep his promise while enduring the terrible memories.
He’d probably be happy to die right now without a fuss, but if he fulfills his last promise and then dies, perhaps his rotten, crumbling soul could be saved.
While listening to the story entwined with Chloe, such a thought suddenly crossed her mind.
There wasn’t much time left.
The time to choose is approaching. Now was the right time to put the plan into action.
Whether to heal his eyes and extend his life, or to watch over Flan’s rest and end everything.
If she does nothing, there’s only a week left. It will all be over before they get out of The Great Forest.
“……”
And she made her decision. There was no time to delay.
The saintess hoisted the dragon and left the room.
* * *
I slept soundly.
Yet, the pain persists.
I must get used to this body that will continue to suffer.
“Stay put until I return.”
I told Cecilia and left the inn.
Today’s purpose is to meet Chloe.
It might seem too urgent, but there wasn’t much time left, so urgency was inevitable.
I wander around wearing a mask.
Myluman’s scenery is famous for its beauty.
Even though it’s artificially created now, the World Tree still stands firm, blending with nature. Looking at the buildings that harmonize with nature, I can’t help but feel that this world is indeed different.
There were hardly any tourists in sight. Aside from the occasional merchant, there were only the long-eared folk.
It hasn’t been long since the rainy season ended, so it would be strange if it were crowded.
I’d like to travel around to heal my broken mind and body.
But there’s no time to relax leisurely.
After all, when my vision is nothing but blackness with only outlines are visible, what does a beautiful view matter? And wandering around in a suspicious outfit with a mask won’t do any good either.
Where could Chloe be?
All I know is that she’s somewhere inside Myluman and that she’s working as a guardian of the World Tree.
I’m not sure why a guardian of the World Tree would be using the forest keeper’s pathways, but… I guess I’ll find her if I head near the World Tree.
Still, to avoid a wasted trip or to prepare for any threats, I need solid information.
If I waste time in the wrong places, I could die before delivering all the letters.
So, where’s the easiest place to gather information?
“No alcohol…, no, the weakest one you have.”
“Yes, understood.”
Of course, it’s the tavern.
This is exactly like the fantasy world I had in mind.
Myluman, in particular, has a developed liquor industry.
Even for a long-lived race, the perception of time is no different from humans. Alcohol, which helps them endure the tedium of their extended lives, is treated as essential as any staple.
So, the liquor industry had to flourish. Without something to pass the time, they couldn’t endure for hundreds of years.
A high demand for alcohol naturally means crowds gather there.
And where crowds gather, information also accumulates.
The establishment was spacious. I chose a large one on purpose. It seemed like the kind of place that adventurers, who do strenuous work, would frequent, rather than a spot for citizens to share a few simple drinks.
Dim lighting and noisy chatter.
I could feel my headache worsening in real-time.
In a place like this, even if I take off my mask, I won’t draw attention.
Perhaps it’s because night has not yet fallen, but there are sparsely occupied tables scattered about.
I chose a spot far from the door, a corner where the light doesn’t quite reach, shrouded in shadows.
The faint smell of alcohol tickles my nose.
It’s not a scent I prefer. It’s identical to the one that damned man from the capital used to reek of. But somehow, the atmosphere here isn’t unpleasant.
“…Excuse me, do you have any of the more expensive drinks?”
“There are some pricier options… Are you waiting for your party to arrive?”
“No, that’s not it. Anyway, if you have expensive stuff, I’ll order about five bottles.”
I asked a nearby server if they had any premium alcohol.
It seems they’re well-stocked, given the size of the place.
If someone asks why I’m buying alcohol I won’t even drink, it’s because the high-end stuff is meant as gifts for those I owe favors.
Originally, I planned to stop by the Dragon Kingdom last and visit a few people after that. But hearing that I don’t have much time left made me feel rushed.
I can’t return home.
That realization has left me feeling inexplicably downcast.
The novel I left unfinished must have reached its conclusion by now. I’m curious about how it ended.
I need to tend to my parents’ graves.
And then there’s college… and my friends…
*Sigh…*
I know a mass murderer like me doesn’t deserve to enjoy such things.
But still.
Dreams are something anyone can have.
Footsteps approach, and then a thud.
“Your order of the World Tree’s Tears is ready.”
I spent a while watching the laughing and chattering crowd.
My order had arrived.
Reddish branches mixed with a fork, it looks like a complimentary appetizer.
And… the alcohol.
How long has it been since I’ve seen it up close?
Excluding that damned man’s swill… it’s been years.
Well, it doesn’t really matter.
Cecilia would surely scold me, but since I don’t have long to live, I might as well drink without regrets.
Still, since I came here to gather information, I ordered the weakest drink.
World Tree’s Tears, was it? The smell was anything but weak. Maybe I ordered wrong.
I set my mask beside the glass.
I was worried someone might recognize my face and scream, but fortunately, no one paid me any attention.
I grasp the bottle and pour it into the glass.
Clink, the sound was clear, and so was the liquid, enough to see the patterns etched on the glass.
I swirl the glass a few times and take a sip.
Elf alcohol is renowned for its exceptional taste.
Bitter.
Like any alcohol, really, but so bitter it makes my face contort.
I can’t really tell the taste. It’s just incredibly bitter.
It seems I really did order the wrong thing.
*
I managed to hold out until late into the night with just one bottle of liquor. Thanks to ordering snacks every time a table emptied, the staff didn’t give me any strange looks. No one bothers a customer who doesn’t make a fuss and just keeps ordering expensive food. It seems elves are no different in that regard.
I didn’t really gather any useful information. Just a bunch of useless stories. If I were here as an adventurer seeking Myluman, I might have been intrigued, but unfortunately, I’m just a postman delivering letters right now. There’s no time for heart-pounding adventures.
There’s no time to kill here either.
As the night deepens, I decide to head back to my lodging. There isn’t much time left, but now that it’s come to this, I need to rest. That’s the only way I’ll have the energy to look for information about Chloe tomorrow.
The alcohol is making me a bit dizzy.
I had my Mind’s Eye turned off while eating, but I can’t hold out any longer. My body is already aching, and if I don’t lie down now, I’ll suffer from a hangover the next day.
So, I steady my wavering body and stand up.
I turn on my Mind’s Eye and look towards the door that leads outside.
“…Huh.”
At the table right next to the main entrance.
There’s Chloe.
She’s tipping back drinks with friends.
But approaching her right now would be unwise.
I can compose myself, recover from the fatigue, and find her later. It’s valuable information that she drinks here with friends. Rest comes first.
After all, wasn’t there trouble with Chloe just the day before?
Even if I spend some time and meet her later, it won’t be too late.
In fact, I doubt I could speak properly because of the alcohol. So, for now, I choose to retreat.
And yet, independent of my will…
“Good evening, beautiful… miss.”
My instinct to find Chloe acted before my reason.
Everyone at the table looks at me. Their conversation stops, and they examine me with surprised faces.
It’s been a while since I’ve had this kind of reaction, but I don’t particularly care and continue speaking.
Now that I’ve already made my move, I have to push forward confidently.
“My name is Troka. If you have some time, I’d like to have a chat, would that be alright?”
I rest my hand on the table and look at Chloe.
She seems quite flustered.
Her face is flushed; it looks like she had been drinking quite a bit before I noticed.
“What.”
After briefly composing herself, she suddenly twitched at the mention of the name Troka.
“…Flan?”
It seems she’s only just recognized me.
With the mask on, she must have identified me by my name and voice.
“What are you trying to do?”
Her voice was sharp, perhaps a bit flustered too.
It’s only natural for her to be suspicious if someone who snuck through the forest keeper’s passage comes looking for her.
She moved cautiously, spacing out the distance between her friends and me with her right hand while sneakily sliding the other under the table.
Is she gripping a knife?
I can see everything with Mind’s Eye, but I don’t let on.
Maybe in the past, she would have stabbed me without hesitation.
It seems she’s grown quite a bit since Troka’s death.
“I’m suggesting we spend some time understanding each other better. That’s why I’ve come all this way… It would be a bit heartbreaking to be turned away at the door.”
No answer came.
Chloe ignored her friends’ questions about my identity and continued to measure the distance.
She seemed to be calculating how to subdue me without involving her friends.
The attention wasn’t on us yet, but if a fight broke out, it would undoubtedly draw everyone’s gaze.
So I needed to get Chloe out of there as quickly as possible.
“This is fucking annoying. I don’t have time, so just come with me. There’s something I need to deliver to you, something important, so take it first and we can think about the rest later.”
I slightly lift my mask to show my face.
Maybe it’s the alcohol that doesn’t agree with me, but I’m bleeding. Chloe’s expression briefly registers surprise at the sight of the blood trickling from my mouth, but her composure returns almost instantly. Now she’s back to her usual sharp, expressionless self.
“I’m in no shape for this, as you can see. Even back then, all I did was run away; I have no intention of fighting.”
Well, it seems she’s a bit relieved. Lucky for me that I’m bleeding. Even if someone dangerous-looking appeared in this state, it would be doubtful if they could even put up a fight.
If she tries to detain me… then I’ll have to fight with whatever I’ve got.
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“What, am I too handsome for you?”
The area feels quiet.
At least Chloe’s table has definitely fallen silent. One of her friends, upon seeing my face, gasps and looks away.
Sure, I have a few scars, but this is a real wound.
“Guys, just wait here for a bit. I’m sorry, it’s been a while since we’ve met. And… Flan, let’s go outside and finish our conversation.”
To her friends, she shows a bright face.
To me, a scowl.
With that, she stands up.
I didn’t expect her to follow me out so easily… well, not easily, but still.
But let’s not overthink it.
What’s good is good.
I casually toss a few gold coins on the counter and head outside.
The moon is shining brightly in the sky.
Well, all I can really see is that the moon is up, but that’s what you call a romantic setting, right?
Chloe steps out of the tavern.
Now, it’s time to deliver the letter.
Jumpscare lmao