Chapter 47
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Because the World Without Me Is Too Fragile - 2
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"Eli. In the name of Setha."
"I shall stop... your time."
Six words echoed in my mind. Eli. Setha. Name. You. Time. Stop.
Stop.
Time.
Stop... time.
"Stop... time?"
My mouth moved on its own, blurting out the question. Then came a choked response.
"Yeah... time. Time has stopped. Her body... it's fine. You were okay too, Luca. You came out of the seal perfectly fine. Eli's the same... she has to be..."
"Bullshit. Then why wasn't she breathing? Why was she vomiting blood?"
"Breathing... of course she wasn't breathing... urk... her internal organs stopped too... You were the weird one, Luca. Your anti-magic resistance is abnormally high, that's why it was possible. The blood... probably because Eli's condition was already critical... or... ugh... that was the curse's trigger condition..."
"You sure about that? You certain, Bobby?"
"Ugh... urk... yeah... I'm certain... aaagh..."
"Evidence? Got any proof to show me?"
"Th-that... I don't have it right now. But later..."
"Goddamn it... yeah, sure. Fine, then where's Eli right now, Bobby? Answer me."
"Eli... uaagh... ack..."
"H-hey... Mr. Luca. Stop..."
"Where's Eli?! Answer me, Bobby!"
"Gack... kuhuk..."
"Mr. Luca! You'll kill him! Stop it!"
"Answer me, you fucking bastard!!!"
"Mr. Luca!!!"
Rachel's voice pierced sharply through my haze of rage. I looked up to see her clinging to my arm, pulling with all her might. Only then did I snap out of it and loosen my iron grip on my fist a little.
"Uh... ughk..."
Bobby's body slumped to the floor with a thud. He rubbed the vivid handprints on his neck, gasping for air. And I, too, felt a suffocating tightness in my chest as I panted heavily.
"Haa... haa..."
"Calm down, please. The kids are watching."
"Eli... Eli..."
"I heard. So please, calm down."
I couldn't finish my sentence and let my hand drop limply. Rachel clutched it like it was a deadly weapon, refusing to let go. Warmth spread through my arm, but it did nothing to soothe me. If anything, my heart pounded wildly, thoughts racing like mad.
Eli is alive.
She's just sealed away.
And Leo's thrashing around trying to break that seal.
"Seal..."
My mouth opened again on its own. I glared at Bobby and asked once more.
"How do you break the seal? You figure that out too?"
"I... I don't know."
Bobby was still coughing and rolling on the floor. Fucking pig. I stepped over and pressed my foot into his flabby gut, demanding again.
"Then who does? You just said it might've been undone."
"Mr. Luca..."
"A-aaaagh... I... I really don't know..."
"Cut the 'I don't know' crap! Say something!"
"Mr. Luca!"
Before Rachel could stop me, I slammed my foot into the pig's mouth. Teeth shattered where my boot hit, blood spraying the wall.
"Eeeugh...! Urk..."
"Answer me, Bobby! How do you break the seal?!"
"You'd know, Luca!!!"
He screamed through rivers of tears and blood, curling up like a newborn, whimpering pathetically.
"You're the only one who's ever escaped that seal, Luca. That's why I thought you knew... You're the only one who knows how, Luca..."
"Me. I know?"
"Yeah... we... we couldn't figure it out. Even gathering all the priests, we got nowhere, damn it... So Leo went to the capital. To drag in every expert from the imperial court for research. Didn't give a shit about the border collapsing because of that stupid crap... Leo... that incompetent fucker..."
Before I knew it, Bobby was muttering to himself. I stared at him, then took a step back.
I know how to break the seal?
I racked my brains, replaying that day. What the hell happened? It was crystal clear in some ways, yet a total blank in others. Rick. Bobby. Leo. Nadia. Sera. Eli. I'd sworn an oath for them. But beyond that oath—what happened outside my closed-off vision? Nothing.
What happened that day? No signs of visitors. Anything unusual? No. Wait, there had to be something. Remember, Luca. Remember. Memories my ass. Nothing happened, damn it. It just wore off on its own over time. That's the only explanation!!!
...
"...Time."
That word swirled in my head again.
Time.
It unraveled after time passed.
What if... that was the only curse? Just that.
Yeah. All seals are like that. They break after time passes.
What if that curse was the same?
What if Eli's curse is too? Just breaks after time?
...
Then... then...
What if Eli's seal breaks after the same amount of time as mine did.
How much time is left until it breaks?
A year? A month?
Or... just two weeks?
Memories surged back. Nightmares I'd buried, unwilling to face. I'd decided not to calculate it precisely. But one thing was clear.
"...I have to go."
"Mr. Luca?"
I turned to Rachel and grabbed her shoulders firmly.
"Rachel. How long to get to the capital?"
"Huh? It's pretty far, so..."
"Far? Ways to shorten it? I need to get there as fast as possible. Somehow! You know any?"
"Wait. I need to check too. And in this situation..."
"Please, Rachel! I have to go right now. Damn it, no time for this. Might need to leave immediately. I... I..."
"Mr. Luca."
Rachel grabbed my chin, forcing our eyes to meet. She'd shed Sera's guise entirely. All that remained were traces of another girl. I opened my mouth pointlessly, then clamped it shut. She stared at me intently before finally speaking.
"...I'll help you."
She even smiled faintly. But her usual cheer was gone. If anything, she looked like she might cry.
"So let's calm down and talk outside. Okay?"
"...Okay."
I nodded. No words came. Opening my mouth now might spill nonsense.
"Come on. Let's go."
She took my hand and led me. I followed with my head down. From behind, Bobby's pained groans faded away.
"What if the kids hear you yelling like that, Mr. Luca."
"...Sorry."
"Sorry again. You promised not to say that to me."
"...Sorry."
"Please, don't say it."
We leaned against the shack's door, gazing at the sky. The post-rain summer sky was endlessly clear and blue. The blazing sun promised a bright future to the changed city, but to me, it cast deeper shadows. Rachel let out a thin sigh and turned to me.
"So. What the hell happened?"
"Eli's alive."
"From the context, that black-haired girl, right? I'd like to think my guess is spot on, but this isn't the time for relief, huh?"
"Her seal might break soon."
"Isn't that good? You could see her soon."
"It can't break now."
"Why?"
"...Long story."
"Figured."
Rachel slowly shook her head and sighed.
"I won't pry into the details now. I know I won't get an answer."
"..."
I didn't say sorry again. Meanwhile, Rachel kept talking.
"Anyway, you need to go to the capital. But things aren't simple. We've turned this whole city upside down."
"We can snag a carriage at least."
"Even if we do, getting out of the city won't be easy. Knights from the capital are facing off against protesters outside the gates. Bigger than expected—they've surrounded the whole city. We gotta think how to slip past them."
"They won't touch innocent citizens."
"Not yet. But who knows what happens up close."
She suddenly scratched her hair furiously, grimacing. Then poured out her complaints like a lament.
"Plus, demon sightings are spiking lately, so escorts on the way. Capital's far—need supplies. Forged IDs need tightening too. Tons to prepare. And you wanna go now? Think you can just decide and poof, it's done? Don't say sorry!"
"..."
"...And don't make that face. Ugh... so, bottom line..."
Rachel yanked at her hair like her head might explode. Then her shoulders slumped as she said,
"Bottom line, we'll make it work. You and me together, we'll figure it out. Right? Like always."
She flashed a soft smile—warm and serene as ever. But today, it only made my heart ache. I averted my gaze slightly and spoke.
"About that, Rachel."
"What? More to say?"
"Yeah. Actually..."
Bang.
Suddenly, the door behind us burst open like an explosion, something small darting out. Rachel yelped and tumbled clumsily. I frowned and turned. There stood Bella, surprisingly neat and tidy.
"Ugh... scared me. Thought it was someone else. Bella, it's you."
Her serious expression from moments ago gone, Rachel grinned foolishly as she looked up. But Bella stared at us stone-faced, no trace of her usual smile.
"..."
"Wh-what's wrong, Bella? Something up?"
"..."
Bella just pursed her lips and looked up at me. Only then did I notice the tear tracks on her small face. Trembling like she was holding back sobs, her tiny fists clenched—then she suddenly rushed me, burying herself in my arms.
"Ugh."
"..."
"What... happened, Bella?"
I asked as gently as I could—not like me at all. She finally lifted her head. Tears were rolling down her cheeks.
"It's..."
"Bella!"
"...!"
But she didn't answer. At Vanessa's shout from behind, Bella bolted the other way. As I traced the tear stains on my chest with a finger, Vanessa stepped out.
"Jeez. That damn kid."
"Wh-what happened?"
"Don't worry about it."
"What happened?"
Vanessa tried to brush it off but scowled at my question, leaning against the door. She shook her head and replied.
"Nothing big. She just thought she might see her mom or something."
"Her mom? But Bella's mom..."
"Yeah. Dead. Long time ago."
"Why act up suddenly? She knows she can't see her mom."
"Well..."
Vanessa dragged it out, then finished bitterly.
"She saw her dad today."
"Her dad? But... oh."
Rachel blinked blankly, then caught on and stopped. To confirm, she asked outright.
"Bella... is Bobby's illegitimate kid?"
"Kids are annoyingly smart sometimes."
Vanessa instinctively pulled out her pipe, then tucked it away. She thunked her head against the wall.
"Don't know the full story. But I can guess. Probably like that girl today—forcibly impregnated by Bobby. He raped plenty of girls before becoming archbishop. Bet Bella's not his only bastard."
"Never seen Bella like that before."
"First for me too. Thought she'd just tough it out... she's still just a kid."
Vanessa shoved her hands in her pockets and gave me a faint smile.
"And first time I've seen Bella that cozy with a guy, Mr. Luca. You two got close fast."
"...Maybe."
"Knew you'd make that face."
I don't know what face I made, but Vanessa stretched and shuddered. Then boomed loudly.
"Ah! Damn. Talking about him sours my mood. Change topics. What were you discussing?"
"Just... this and that. About what Bobby said earlier, and heading to the capital."
"Yeah. Vanessa. Was gonna ask you something."
"Oh ho. Something from me? No idea what I know, but fire away. What's up?"
"Bobby's story. How much do you think is true?"
"That, huh."
Vanessa gave an ambiguous look skyward. After a long pause, she nodded.
"At least the demon language part rings true. Never studied it, but rolling with them, I picked up military terms. 'Advance' is 'ego.' 'Retreat' is 'maden.' 'Stop' is 'ruta.' The rest... probably similar enough."
"So a curse that stops someone's time really exists?"
"Dunno about that. Not my expertise. Ask someone else."
"Who?"
"Well... for instance."
Vanessa stopped and stared straight into my eyes. Her deep blue gaze gleamed as she said,
"For instance, the genius mage who graduated top of Apenheim Academy."
...
I shut my mouth and looked away. A strong urge to pretend I hadn't heard.
"Only one person I know mastered both magic and divine arts. Even if it's a false name propped up by lies, she didn't waste those years idly."
...
"Might not know exactly, but she could give hints. Worth talking to."
...
"Mr. Luca."
Vanessa called my name more firmly than ever. Her voice had a pull that seized attention. When I finally turned, she spoke clearly.
"I hate that saintess. Hate everyone in the church. They all turned a blind eye to Bobby's crimes for years. But unrelated to that, she has a right to know. That an old comrade is alive."
...
Not entirely right.
...
But not something I could fully deny either.
"Haa..."
I sighed toward the sky. The summer heat evaporated even my white breath without a trace. Watching it vanish, I asked quietly.
"Sera still sleeping?"
"Yes."
Thump.
...
Suddenly, my heart pounded once, violently. Like the whole earth trembled. An odd feeling hit; I gazed toward the horizon. But there was just the sun shining as always.
"Okay."
Sera has a right to know too.
I didn't voice it. Just nodded to Vanessa.
She nodded back, jerked her head toward somewhere, and walked off. I followed silently.