Chapter 70
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: The Girl Searching for Them. The Girl Who Came to Her - 2
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With the plan unexpectedly canceled, I finally had some leisure time after so long. It was just a fleeting moment, but even so, the fact that I had a short time to rest lightened my heart. I let out a pleasant breath, not even aware of where I was walking.
"Haa..."
As autumn arrived, just gazing at the passing scenery brought a natural smile to my face. The high sky. The cool breeze blowing in. The yellowed rice fields and the people sweating over them. It might be nothing more than an ordinary daily scene to some, but to me, it felt exceptionally precious.
In the end, do people only realize the preciousness of something after having it taken away once? Even the peace that had been as familiar as breathing—I only came to understand its true value after it shattered.
Of course, that doesn't mean you have to lose something to appreciate its worth.
"Aw... I'm so tired..."
Passing through the scenery of human habitation and entering the lush forest, my limbs screamed for rest. Being someone of weak resolve, I meekly nodded to instinct's call and lay down before a large boulder. The cold touch of the rock stroking my skin sent a faint shiver racing up my spine.
"Ahh... Haaah... Feels so good..."
I set down the backpack from my back and sprawled my arms and legs out haphazardly. Through the intertwined leaves waving toward the sky, warm sunlight filtered in, and the fragrant scent of earth wafted up.
"Euyah... Good... Ugh...!"
Fooling around by shaking my legs aimlessly, I accidentally kicked the backpack with a thud. The precariously balanced bag lost its center and toppled over, spilling miscellaneous items out from its open mouth in a rush.
"Oh dear. This is..."
I hurriedly scooped up the scattered items and shoved them back into the backpack. While stuffing in bundles of paper, writing tools, a small dagger, broken arrowheads, and so on, one object suddenly caught my eye. In an instant, the fragrant earth smell vanished, mingled with the metallic tang of blood in the air.
"..."
Momentary stray thoughts bubbled up, but I shook my head to dispel them. Then I picked up the severed finger lying on the ground and tucked it back into the bag. If Bobby were still alive, there would have been two. It was as I stood the backpack upright again with such thoughts.
"Huh."
"Yeah?"
Suddenly, a child's voice rang out, and when I looked up, the bushes rustled with a flapping sound. What if they'd seen the severed finger? Fidgeting anxiously, I cautiously opened my mouth.
"Hey, is someone there?"
"...!"
Cute footsteps sounded again, and this time the tree ahead shook slightly. I mustered my smile once more and carefully rose to my feet.
"I'm not a weird person..."
"Don't move!"
The child let out a sharp yell, and I shot my hands up high, freezing in place.
"If you move even a little more, I won't let you off!"
"Ah... Yeah. Sorry. I won't move."
"State your identity!"
"Me? I'm... just a normal passerby. Who are you?"
"I'll ask the questions!"
"Yes. Understood."
I raised my hands even higher and put on a solemn expression. The child then shouted with newfound confidence.
"Good! Then I'll come out, so stay right there with your hands up!"
"Yes. I will."
"Don't do anything weird!"
"Yes."
Only then did the bushes shake wildly as arms and legs poked out from behind the tree. Struggling to push her small body through the tall undergrowth seemed tough, and her flailing was so adorable that I desperately fought back laughter.
"Eek... Eek..."
"Khup..."
"Ack!"
After wrestling with the bushes for a good while, the child finally broke through—only to flop face-first onto the ground. Seeing her tiny frame topped with jet-black hair puffing out, I lowered my hands in worry and rushed over.
"Ah... Are you okay?"
"Eek... Eeeek..."
Face-down on the ground, the child seemed more embarrassed than hurt; far from crying, she just huffed and swallowed her frustration alone. No matter whose kid she was, this girl was brave. With that thought, I patted her back.
"Can you get up?"
"I can handle that much on my own!"
Another sharp yell pierced the air. My ears were ringing, but her spirited energy eased my mind a bit. I replied with a gentle smile.
"Got it. Got it, so get up now..."
But that smile faded fast the instant I saw her face. Forgetting I should look serious, I gaped blankly.
"Hmph, see? I can do it... What? Why are you like that...?"
Standing tall with a proud look, the child saw my flustered face and asked in a slightly worried tone. The kindness blended into her sunny personality called to mind one particular girl. Only then did I shake my head and force on a smile.
"Huh? Ah... No. You're not hurt, are you?"
"I'm not hurt. This much is nothing."
"I see. You're really brave."
"Of course. Who do you think I am?"
The child shot back proudly, but pleased by the praise, she grinned with twitching lips. Gazing at her innocent face, I felt a little more at ease.
And at the same time, beholding that face so eerily like his sent a shiver through me.
I'd forgotten. Fate is like an innocent child, sometimes playing jokes too cruel to laugh at. I'd wandered through Vaimletter, Erendel, and Mailler, deliberately avoiding Lorenheim. Foolish of me. In hindsight, after all those events, there's no way he'd still be living back in his hometown.
I really shouldn't have dismissed the chance of a random encounter like this.
"So? Who are you, big sis? Why'd you come all the way to such a deep forest?"
The child was already chatting with me familiarly. Her sociable nature must take after her mom. Face like him, personality like her. If it were the other way around, I wouldn't be this rattled.
"Then why'd you come to a place like this?"
"Because I live here. Oh, big sis, don't stay here too long. Dad doesn't like outsiders coming around. He's super strong and really scary."
"...Still the same, huh."
I chuckled unwittingly and muttered. The child blinked wide-eyed up at me.
"Huh? Big sis, you know my dad?"
A slip-up. On second thought, I should leave right now. Staying meant a high chance he'd come looking for her, and it wasn't time to face him yet.
But ignoring this child—with his face, speaking like that girl—was no easy feat. My body resisted, yet my heart coaxed me to chat just a little. In the end, I plopped down and beckoned her.
"Yeah. We knew each other a long time ago. Come sit and talk with big sis for a bit?"
"Dad doesn't have friends."
The child hesitated, curiosity winning out as she sat cautiously beside me. I barely quelled the impulse to stroke her hair and spoke.
"Not friends. Just acquaintances. We met long ago and worked together."
"With my dad? Never heard that story."
"He probably never mentioned it. I know your mom well too. Does she still smell like mint flowers?"
"Huh, how'd you know? You really know my mom and dad?"
"You really didn't believe me, huh?"
She'd even inherited that frightening caution. Only then did the child excitedly cling close, raising her voice.
"How long have you known them? What'd you do with Dad? Why no contact all this time? What do you do, big sis?"
"Wait... Too many questions..."
"Can I ask Dad about you? How'd you meet? Who the heck is Kate sis? How do you know Mom?"
"Ahaha..."
Amid the torrent of questions, I burst into hearty laughter. Back then, I'd gotten so many questions too. But I'd hardly answered any properly.
Same now.
"Hmm... Can't answer them all, just one. Deal?"
"Aw, why! Please!"
"Sorry, no dice. Gotta find a place to crash before sunset anyway."
"Just stay at my house! You know both Mom and Dad!"
"Can't do that."
"Why?"
The child met my eyes with sparkling ones. In those mercilessly jet-black pupils, dark as night, I felt his gaze. My whole body suddenly felt drenched in guilt.
"Long ago, I did something terrible to your dad."
I finally averted my eyes, letting the heavy words drop. The unforgettable past gnawed at my mind like an inescapable curse.
"So until I get his forgiveness... I can't go back."
"Can't you just go say sorry?"
"That's not enough. It's just not..."
Unthinkingly, I glanced at my hand. My empty palm was riddled with fresh scars, just like back then.
"Until I finish the job... I can't meet him."
"What's that mean?"
"Can't tell you that."
What was I even saying to this kid? I forced my smile back and turned to her.
"So, just one question? Big sis doesn't have much time."
"Okay..."
The child hesitated, pouting her lips. I tensed slightly, wondering what would slip from those small lips.
"Then I'll ask later."
"Huh?"
But she sprang up with the most unexpected reply, beaming brightly.
"You'll come back once the job's done anyway, right? Then I'll ask everything. Better for big sis too, no?"
"But... Aren't you curious?"
"Of course. But we'll meet again, so it's fine. I'll wait."
And she extended her tiny hand to me. One little tug and she'd topple again. Yet here she was, offering to support someone twice her size.
"What if I don't know when I'll come?"
"You'll come someday."
"..."
"Then it's fine."
Her hand still waved before my nose. Like a white flower blooming briefly in summer before bowing its head in promise of next year—fragile, yet radiating clear resolve as it reached for me.
"Haha..."
A hollow laugh escaped me suddenly. Even with the power to bend time, I'd always been hounded by it. How could you all speak of waiting so effortlessly?
And infuse such sincerity into it?
Maybe that's why I'd met this fate—for failing to understand.
"Yeah. Let's do that."
I nodded at last and took her hand. Surprisingly firm strength pulled me right up.
"Then hurry back, big sis. I'll be waiting."
"Yeah. Got it. You'll be here till then?"
"I waited for you, so you find me. Obvious, right?"
"True enough."
Right. Naturally, I'd have to seek her out. It might not even take long. I'd already pinpointed that man's location somewhat; all that remained was facing him. If luck held and things went smoothly, then...
...
I'd come repay the debt.
"I'll head out. Can you keep today's meeting quiet?"
"Don't worry. I get that much."
"Thanks. Uh..."
As I turned to leave after thanking her, one fact nagged at me. Should've asked from the start, maybe. Belatedly scratching my head, I spoke up.
"Hey, what's your name, anyway?"
"What's yours, big sis?"
"Hmm... You first, then I'll tell. What's your name?"
She crossed her arms and tilted up her chin.
"Hmph. You're the suspicious one, so you reveal first. And I asked who you were already."
"Oho, tough customer. But I'm older, so isn't it polite for the kid to go first?"
"Don't know about that. You first, big sis."
Who'd she take after to be so bullheaded? Maybe both. Those two were the stubbornest people I knew.
"Fine. Let's say it together. That work?"
I gave ground with a compromise. She pondered briefly, then nodded.
"Good. Together it is."
"Yeah. On one, two, three?"
I crouched to meet her eyes. Faintly, a minty scent seemed to tease my nose. We eyed each other's mouths and spoke as one.
"One."
"Two."
Three.